This article is from the source 'rtcom' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at https://www.rt.com/news/532184-sri-lanka-health-minister-covid-misinformation/
The article has changed 3 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 0 | Version 1 |
|---|---|
| Sri Lanka demotes health minister for promoting Covid ‘magic potion’ treatment | Sri Lanka demotes health minister for promoting Covid ‘magic potion’ treatment |
| (10 days later) | |
| Sri Lanka’s president has announced that the country’s health minister, Pavithra Wanniarachchi, has been sacked for pushing Covid misinformation and promoting false treatments amid surging case numbers. | Sri Lanka’s president has announced that the country’s health minister, Pavithra Wanniarachchi, has been sacked for pushing Covid misinformation and promoting false treatments amid surging case numbers. |
| Announcing Wanniarachchi’s dismissal on Monday, the president’s office confirmed she would move to a position in the transport ministry, with media minister Keheliya Rambukwella taking her health portfolio. | Announcing Wanniarachchi’s dismissal on Monday, the president’s office confirmed she would move to a position in the transport ministry, with media minister Keheliya Rambukwella taking her health portfolio. |
| The cabinet shake-up comes after Wanniarachchi pushed claims that a “magic potion” made by a sorcerer helped to protect her and others against Covid. The former health minister stated that she had poured “blessed” water into a river in the country in November after a so-called “god-man” had told her doing so would end the Covid outbreak in the country. | The cabinet shake-up comes after Wanniarachchi pushed claims that a “magic potion” made by a sorcerer helped to protect her and others against Covid. The former health minister stated that she had poured “blessed” water into a river in the country in November after a so-called “god-man” had told her doing so would end the Covid outbreak in the country. |
| However, coronavirus infections have continued to rise throughout Sri Lanka, with the number of fatalities from the virus rising to more than 150 and new cases growing to over 3,000 per day in the past week. As medical facilities are overwhelmed by the scale of the outbreak, health experts in the government have warned that infections could triple in the coming weeks. | However, coronavirus infections have continued to rise throughout Sri Lanka, with the number of fatalities from the virus rising to more than 150 and new cases growing to over 3,000 per day in the past week. As medical facilities are overwhelmed by the scale of the outbreak, health experts in the government have warned that infections could triple in the coming weeks. |
| Wanniarachchi had faced growing criticism in her role as health minister for underestimating the devastation caused by the deadly wave of Covid sweeping across the country. Alongside pushing Covid misinformation, Wanniarachchi had rejected supporting a lockdown to prevent further spread of the virus, although the government increased restrictions last week. | Wanniarachchi had faced growing criticism in her role as health minister for underestimating the devastation caused by the deadly wave of Covid sweeping across the country. Alongside pushing Covid misinformation, Wanniarachchi had rejected supporting a lockdown to prevent further spread of the virus, although the government increased restrictions last week. |
| Currently, an evening curfew will come into effect on shops, restaurants and offices from Monday, with weddings and parties prohibited from Tuesday and all ceremonies and public gatherings barred from going ahead until September. | Currently, an evening curfew will come into effect on shops, restaurants and offices from Monday, with weddings and parties prohibited from Tuesday and all ceremonies and public gatherings barred from going ahead until September. |
| Since the start of the pandemic, Sri Lanka has reported 354,968 confirmed cases and 6,039 deaths from Covid, with only 14.9 million doses of a vaccine administered, according to data reported to the World Health Organization. | Since the start of the pandemic, Sri Lanka has reported 354,968 confirmed cases and 6,039 deaths from Covid, with only 14.9 million doses of a vaccine administered, according to data reported to the World Health Organization. |
| Think your friends would be interested? Share this story! | Think your friends would be interested? Share this story! |
| Dear readers and commenters, | |
| We have implemented a new engine for our comment section. We hope the transition goes smoothly for all of you. Unfortunately, the comments made before the change have been lost due to a technical problem. We are working on restoring them, and hoping to see you fill up the comment section with new ones. You should still be able to log in to comment using your social-media profiles, but if you signed up under an RT profile before, you are invited to create a new profile with the new commenting system. | |
| Sorry for the inconvenience, and looking forward to your future comments, | |
| RT Team. |