Don’t wait for lockdowns, protect your family: Fernandopulle
State Minister of Primary Health Care, Epidemics, and Covid-19 Disease Control Dr. Sudarshini Fernandopulle urged the public to not leave their homes unless urgently required to do so. This month is very risky; stay home.”She was speaking to the media following the Gampaha District Covid-19 Control Committee meeting, where she added: “My opinion does not matter. Do not wait for the Government and the Ministry of Health. Protect your family; don’t wait until a lockdown is imposed, or someone makes rules. This is a matter of life and death.”
Source:The Nation
August 10, 2021 17:15 UTC
Most 30 plus HIV positive persons vaccinated
“We have noticed a decrease in the number of people getting tested for HIV over the past year. Thus, they must definitely be among the priority groups for the vaccine,” said Dr. Doherty. She added that all WHO approved Covid-19 vaccines are safe to be used among people living with HIV. Meanwhile, Dr. Doherty noted that over the course of last year, there has been a reduction in testing and access to HIV related services in many countries, as a result of the pandemic. According to the National STD/AIDS Control Programme, by the end of 2019, there were approximately 3,600 people living with HIV in Sri Lanka.
Source:The Nation
August 10, 2021 17:01 UTC
Protest crackdown worst since 2008: FUTA
“In July 2008, the then Education Minister threatened us. The Education Minister at the time threateningly told the then FUTA President that he would like to meet him. But more than both those two incidents, the threats in 2021 are more fearful” said former FUTA President Prof. Rohan Fernando. He added that at the protest on 3 August, FUTA members were verbally threatened after the protest. The KNDU Bill has received widespread criticism from various quarters for its alleged threats to free education and the militarisation of education.
Source:The Nation
August 10, 2021 16:52 UTC
More than 2,900 fresh COVID cases confirmed within the day
A total of 912 more people were tested positive for COVID-19 today (August 10), increasing the daily count of positive cases to 2,904. According to the Government Information Department, the new cases reported today have been associated with the New Year cluster. The latest infections and delayed reported cases for the last week have brought Sri Lanka’s confirmed coronavirus cases tally to 339,092, the Epidemiology Unit said. Official data showed that as many as 298,162 patients who were infected with the virus have regained health so far. More than 35,000 are currently under medical care at selected hospitals and treatment centres across the country.
Source:The Nation
August 10, 2021 16:52 UTC
Get vaccinated, ob-gyns urge pregnant women
BY Dinitha RathnayakeThe Sri Lanka College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists (SLCOG) urged pregnant women to obtain the Covid-19 vaccine at the nearest hospital or clinic. The provision of Covid-19 vaccines for pregnant women was recently launched on 9 June and about 300 pregnant women have been vaccinated so far. The scientific opinion is that it is practical to get vaccinated properly to protect against the B.1.617.2 Indian Delta strain of Covid-19 and also because 12 pregnant women have died so far from Covid-19. The Morning reported yesterday (10) about the slow progress of pregnant women being vaccinated, even though the vaccination of pregnant women is scheduled to be completed within one month. Issues in administering the vaccine to expectant women at Army-run 24-hour centres, owing to the documentation related to the special consent letters pertaining to pregnant women allegedly not being provided by the relevant Health authorities to these centres, were reported.
Source:The Nation
August 10, 2021 16:41 UTC
Weddings limited to 50 guests
‘Curfew is last resort’: KeheliyaSLMA reiterates call for travel restrictionsBY Pamodi Waravita and Dinitha RathnayakeThe Government yesterday (10) revised the existing Covid-19 health guidelines reducing the number of guests permitted at weddings effective from midnight yesterday. However, a curfew or stricter travel restrictions are yet to be determined. National Operations Centre for the Prevention of the Covid-19 Outbreak (NOCPCO) Task Force Head and Army Commander Gen. Shavendra Silva said yesterday that the number of guests at weddings is to be reduced to 50 from the previous 150 guests. “We are ready to accept the health experts’ advice about travel restrictions. On 9 August, parliamentary opposition parties Samagi Jana Balawegeya (SJB) and National People’s Power (NPP) called for a nationwide lockdown.
Source:The Nation
August 10, 2021 16:30 UTC
Google One VPN is now available in seven more countries
Google One offers a VPN service to its users, but it was limited to the United States until now. Finally, Mountain View decided to expand to seven more countries in Europe and North America, but it is still limited to subscribers with at least 2TB in their plan. Users with the cheapest three tiers (Free 15GB, 100GB, and 200GB) can’t get the VPN service separately; the price is actually for a 2TB plan. Another issue some users might have is availability - VPN by Google One is currently available on Android devices. But if you have an Android phone and a 2 TB plan, you can enable the VPN simply through the Benefits tab in the Google One app.
Source:The Nation
August 10, 2021 16:18 UTC
Energy poverty and inequality in Sri Lanka
However, measurements of the extent and depth of energy poverty in Sri Lanka are generally absent and the research and discussion of energy poverty are largely missing in the policy and public domain in the country. This research study, using the 2016 Sri Lankan Household Income and Expenditure Survey data collected by the Census and Statistics Department, constructed the Multidimensional Energy Poverty Index (MEPI) to examine the incidence, intensity, inequality, and determinants of energy poverty in Sri Lanka. The results revealed that the incidence of energy poverty in Sri Lanka is 71.6% and that the average intensity of simultaneous deprivations among the energy poor is 60.2%. Figure 1 presents the distribution of energy poverty at the District level, a further disaggregated visualisation of sub-national location-based energy poverty in the country. As such, this study also investigated the link between energy poverty and income poverty in the country.
Source:The Nation
August 10, 2021 16:18 UTC
Sir Andrew Pollard says No10 should scrap asymptomatic testing
Asymptomatic Covid testing should be wound down as the UK learns to live with the pandemic, one of the country's top coronavirus experts said today. Sir Andrew Pollard, who helped develop the Oxford University/AstraZeneca vaccine, said only people who are unwell should be swabbed. Sir Andrew told the group of parliamentarians: 'The decision to boost or not should be scientifically driven. Sir Andrew, the chair of No10's advisory panel JCVI, said there should be a shift in the testing regime. Sir Andrew also told MPs that children who aren't unwell shouldn't have to self-isolate to curb the spread of Covid.
Source:The Nation
August 10, 2021 16:03 UTC
How to Locate Your Complete Vaccination Record
However, there are ways to either locate your complete record, or at least prove you’ve gotten vaccinated in the past. Where to look for your childhood vaccination recordsAccording to the CDC, here are some potential ways to locate your vaccination records:G/O Media may get a commissionAsk parents or other caregivers if they have records of your childhood immunizations. Keep in mind that vaccination records are maintained at doctor’s office for a limited number of years. In order to avoid having to locate your records again, take the advice of the Immunization Action Coalition: deliver your proof of vaccination to either your healthcare provider or local public health clinic and ask them to enter your vaccination information into an official record. This will give you a “provider-verified” record, which is often a requirement for showing proof of vaccination anyway.
Source:The Nation
August 10, 2021 13:30 UTC
Bureau Veritas introduces organic fertilizer analysis for Sri Lanka
In supporting the vision of the country and sector to embrace organic fertilizers to improve and achieve better standards of healthy living, Bureau Veritas Consumer Products Services Lanka, part of the global leader for testing, inspection and certification services, recently stepped up to expand its laboratory services to now offer organic fertilizer testing. Rasanga U. Hewage, Vice President, Central Asia Region at Bureau Veritas Consumer Products Services, said ‘We take great pride in supporting the government and country in its decision to ban chemical fertilizers and pesticides and adopt an organic approach to agriculture. Our organic fertilizer analysis will help farmers, planters, and businesses to get a head start in this process. Bureau Veritas Consumer Products Services Lanka, as the apex testing and quality assurance body, has been at the forefront in maintaining and sustaining quality, robust standards of products and services. Established in 1828, Bureau Veritas is a world leader in laboratory testing, inspection and certification services with over 78,000 employees located in more than 1,600 offices and laboratories globally.
Source:The Nation
August 10, 2021 13:07 UTC
'Code red' climate report: Chinese state media downplays Beijing's role
Chinese state media made no mention of the country's huge carbon emissions or pledge to reach net-neutral a decade later than most of the world as the UN released its 'code red' climate report on Monday. Also conspicuously absent from most Chinese reporting was mention of the 2050 net neutral emissions target that a vast majority of countries are committed to - perhaps to avoid comparison with Beijing's target to be net neutral by 2060. The only direct reference to China's emissions was a quote from Swiss scientist Gian-Kasper Plattner who praised the country's 'huge steps forward' in recent years. The People's Daily similarly did not make reference to the 2050 target, China's current emissions, or suggest the country should be taking action to cut them. China's carbon emissions are vast and growing, and experts say the world cannot win the fight against climate change unless Beijing makes massive reductions.
Source:The Nation
August 10, 2021 13:07 UTC
Maldivian yacht builders establish facility in Hambantota Port
Sea Horse Yachts (Pvt) Ltd. recently entered into an agreement with the Hambantota International Port Group (HIPG) to set up a state-of-the-art yacht building facility at the port. The newly incorporated Sea Horse Yachts Ltd. (SHY), is a premium luxury yacht builder, located in Hambantota, Sri Lanka. SHY will be managed by a highly experienced team of experts from Sri Lanka, closely supported by British, European and South African innovators and designers. They have a long history in boating and life at sea and will engage with international partners to establish the state-of-the-art yacht building factory in Sri Lanka. Johnson Liu, CEO of HIPG, speaking at the ceremony, said the Hambantota Port Industrial Park is an international trade zone.
Source:The Nation
August 10, 2021 12:11 UTC
Ecobank Group Launches 2021 edition of its Fintech Challenge
The pan-African banking group, Ecobank group, is inviting African Fintech entrepreneurs to join the 4th edition of the Ecobank Fintech Challenge. The Fintech Challenge is in line with the Bank’s commitment to championing digitization by giving innovative African start-ups the opportunity to promote their fintech solutions. (https://Ecobankfintechchallenge.com)All selected Finalists will be inducted into the Ecobank Fintech Fellowship following the Finals and Awards ceremony slated for November 2021. Access to Ecobank’s Pan-African Banking Sandbox: Fellows will be given access to Ecobank’s APIs to test and improve their products for the pan-African market. The Challenge resulted in Ecobank successfully launching the Ecobank Investor App, originally developed by Finance Mobile, a start-up from the 2017 Ecobank Fintech Fellows cohort.
Source:The Nation
August 10, 2021 12:11 UTC
How a young entrepreneur finds worth in plastic waste
As industrialisation and population increase, Sri Lanka is battling a threatening matter; the growth in irresponsible plastic waste disposal/management. A labour of loveNow, 30, he recalled why he started the company, attributing it to the love he has for keeping the environment free of plastic waste. I then realised that I needed to venture out and diversify my business by not only limiting it to collecting PET plastic but also other types of plastic waste, too,” mentioned Pathum. Additionally, he required a team of employees who understood the trade while securing funds to buy a space to store plastic waste collected. Astonished that plastic waste is becoming a widely recognisable problem, he is on a quest to be part of a system that can provide viable solutions to this issue.
Source:The Nation
August 10, 2021 11:26 UTC