Patient management and hospital facilities - IS THE COVID PICTURE PORTRAYED BY AUTHORITIES REAL?

The sudden spike in COVID cases in Sri Lanka has overwhelmed hospitals thereby prompting decision-makers to request asymptomatic patients to remain at home. While several concerns have been raised with regards to this decision, it does seem that there’s no other option to control the present situation. In the meantime, photos and videos of COVID patients sleeping on the floor with bare minimum facilities in some hospitals went viral on social media. In this backdrop the Daily Mirror contacted several main hospitals in selected districts to inquire into the present situation. But contrary to what was being shared, the picture shown to this paper was rather positive.

- Kamanthi Wickramasinghe

D G HOSPITAL NAGODA, KALUTARA REQUIRES MORE OXYGEN

With several photos of COVID positive patients sleeping on the floor at District General Hospital (DGH), Nagoda going viral on social media, the Daily Mirror spoke to Hospital Director Dr. Chintha Gunaratne. “We are in the process of arranging two temporary wards for these patients. So far there are 40 COVID positive patients in isolation wards. If a COVID patient is admitted we do the initial management and then refer them to a treatment facility depending on the severity of symptoms,” said Dr. Gunaratne.

When asked about facilities including oxygen, Dr. Gunaratne said that they have requested for more oxygen supplies as the number of patients who require oxygen is gradually on the rise.

8 INFECTED PREGNANT MOTHERS AT COLOMBO NORTH TEACHING HOSPITAL, RAGAMA

Another video of COVID patients sleeping in a packed space went viral on social media. This was reportedly taken at Colombo North Teaching Hospital, Ragama. However when inquired, Hospital Director Dr. Sampath Ranaweera said that so far around 120 COVID positive patients are at the hospital. There around 80 more positive patients at Kandana Hospital. So far, four patients are critical and are referred to ICU care and six patients are in High Dependency Units. Eight pregnant mothers are also among those who have been admitted with COVID symptoms,” said Dr. Ranaweera.