COLOMBO: The island nation, which recorded its first maternal coronavirus death in May, is battling a spike in Delta variant infections after travel restrictions were eased for local new year celebrations in mid-April.
Usually, the country records 90 to 100 maternal deaths a year, but since the start of the third wave it has recorded 41 deaths of pregnant women from Covid alone, according to the government officials.
Government obstetrician and gynaecologist Harsha Atapattu said he was urging “newlyweds, as well as those who are trying to have a baby, to delay it by at least a year because of the risks of Covid-19. Getting infected with Covid during the pregnancy is extremely dangerous. It could affect the mother and the baby,” Atapattu said. “Initially we said there was no threat from Covid to pregnant women but due to Delta variant this has changed. We see daily there are new variants emerging.
Chithramali de Silva, Director of the Family Health Bureau (FHB) announced at least 75 per cent of pregnant mothers have received at least one jab. De Silva said about 5,500 expectant mothers had been infected. Experts have urged pregnant women to get the jab, with Sri Lankan health officials stating the Delta variant appears to increase their risk of severe symptoms.
The nation of 21 million people has been under a lightly imposed lockdown since August that the government expects to lift in mid-September. But World Health Organisation experts in Sri Lanka have called for tougher restrictions until the start of October.
Hospitals have been overwhelmed during the surge, despite efforts to speed up the vaccination drive with nearly half of the total population receiving two doses.
