President inspects newly-built COVID Intermediate Care Centre in Seeduwa

• ICC housed in building offered by Brandix Apparel 
• Comprises 3 wards, can treat total of 1,200 patients
• Medical services will be provided jointly by Health Ministry, Sri Lanka Army Medical Corps
• COVID-19 patients who do not show serious symptoms and cannot be taken care of at home to be treated in the facility
• Project aims to avoid overcrowding at hospitals, allow medical staff to pay undivided attention to patients in critical condition

President Gotabaya Rajapaksa yesterday visited the newly-built Intermediate Care Centre (ICC) for COVID-19 patients in Seeduwa.

The ICC, housed in a building offered by Brandix Apparel Company, comprises three wards. It has the capacity to treat a total of 1,200 patients. 

Medical services at the ICC will be provided jointly by the Ministry of Health and Sri Lanka Army Medical Corps. The care centre is fully equipped with the latest technical appliances, including a number of facilities to maintain the mental health of the in-house patients. 

It is noteworthy that the facility was constructed within a mere 10 days by the Sri Lanka Army in collaboration with the Army Seva Vanitha Unit. Disabled war veterans of the Ranaviru apparel factory were able to manufacture 2,000 sets of bed sheets within a short period of 24 hours.

COVID-19 patients who cannot be practically taken care of at home but who do not show serious symptoms are to be treated in the facility. 

This project expects to avoid overcrowding at hospitals and allow medical staff to pay undivided attention to patients in critical condition and in a serious stage of infection.

It is also notable that COVID-19 patients with Non-Communicable Diseases (NCDs) being treated long-term will continue to receive their medication and medical consultations during their stay at the ICC. 

Defence Secretary General (Retd) Kamal Gunaratne, Health Secretary Major General Dr. Sanjeewa Munasinghe, Health Services Director General Dr. Asela Gunawardane and Chief of Defence Staff and Army Commander General Shavendra Silva were also present at the occasion.