Death of the first Sri Lankan doctor due to COVID-19 amid Daily cases in Sri Lanka past 800 in last 5 days
The number of deaths due to the novel coronavirus increased to 324 on Tuesday with the passing of Dr Gayan Danthanarayana, Sri Lanka’s first frontline worker to succumb to the disease.
Sri Lanka’s daily COVID-19 cases exceeded 800 for the fifth consecutive day, with 826 cases being discovered in a period of 24 hours that ended at 6am Tuesday, according to the official data.
Following the death of the first Sri Lankan doctor due to COVID-19 infection, the Government Medical Medical Officers' Association (GMOA) today said that the authorities and the public should pay more attention over the spreading of the virus.
Addressing the media, GMOA Editor Dr. Haritha Aluthge said the country is heading towards a dangerous situation with the death of a doctor at the Karapitiya Hospital.
The deceased has been identified as Dr. Gayan Danthanarayana, 32, a resident of Heenkanda, Ragama. During the last few days, the number of COVID-19 infections reported were over 800, Dr. Aluthge said.
Dr Danthanarayana, who worked at the Ragama hospital, was receiving treatment at the Mulleriyawa hospitals before being transferred to the Karapitiya Teaching Hospital in Galle where he passed away on Tuesday.
Total COVID-19 cases in Sri Lanka have now reached 64,983, with 6,585 active cases repoted and 839 individuals currently under investigation in hospitals.
Sri Lanka recorded 310 COVID-19 deaths in the past four months after the second wave of the virus hit on October 4 last year.
According to the task force, of the deaths so far, 143 were patients above the age of 71 years, 76 were 61-70 years, 47 were 51-60 years, 30 were 41-50 years, and 14 were 0-40 years.
Meanwhile, vaccination of frontline health workers and tri forces personnel continues for the fourth day. Health officials said 95,550 have received the Covishield jab so far.