Sunday Times E-Paper

At a glance

Information in snippet-form from the media briefing at the Health Promotion Bureau (HPB) on Friday.

The officials who participated were HPB Director Dr. Ranjith Batuwanthudawe; Head of the Disaster Preparedness and Response Division, Dr. Hemantha Herath; and Family Health Bureau Director Dr. Chitramalee de Silva.

There are adequate oxygen supplies currently even though there is a spike in infection numbers. The need is to curb the spread of the disease urgently.

If a person has not got his/her first dose of vaccination in an area which has had extensive vaccination coverage, he/she should contact the Medical Officer of Health (MOH) of the area and get a date and time to get the jab

If a person is vaccinated and planning to go abroad, contact the MOH, get an appointment and take the supporting documents [passport, NIC, vaccination card, relevant documents indicating the need for the journey (university letter, job offer, etc.)] to get a computer generated certificate.

With Breastfeeding Week being commemorated from August 1-7, a reminder that even if new mothers get infected with COVID-19 or take the vaccine, they can continue to breastfeed their babies.

From the beginning of the pandemic up to now, 2,400 expectant mothers have contracted COVID-19, while 14 of these mothers have died mostly in the third wave.

Thirteen children under the age of five years have died of COVID-19 since the beginning of the pandemic.

Vaccination & those vaccinated as of July 29: AstraZeneca – around 700,000 doses were due to arrive around 5 p.m. yesterday (July 31). Health officials assured that priority will be given to all those who are awaiting their second jab, when this stock arrives. So far 385,885 have got fully vaccinated with AstraZeneca and 539,357 are awaiting their second dose.

Sinopharm – 1,663,421 have got fully vaccinated and 5,525,271 are awaiting their second dose.

Pfizer – 194,101 given the first dose Moderna – 711,793 given the first dose Sputnik V – 14,503 have been fully vaccinated and 144,578 are awaiting their second dose.

COVID-19

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2021-08-01T07:00:00.0000000Z

2021-08-01T07:00:00.0000000Z

https://sundaytimes.pressreader.com/article/281702617755855

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