Sri Lanka's Health Minister, Pavithra Wanniarachchi tested positive for COVID-19 on Friday. She had previously endorsed a herbal syrup to prevent the virus. The syrup was produced by a shaman (believer in spirits etc) who claimed it worked as a life-long inoculation against the virus.
Wanniarchchi is the fourth minister in the country to test positive. In fact another junior Sri Lankan minister who had taken the portion also was tested positive earlier this week.
The health minister too had consumed the portion publicly earlier. She endorsed the syrup as a way to stop the spread of the deadly virus. However doctors in the country have denied these claims about the syrup. But reports of thousands of people travelling to a village to obtain this syrup did surface.
The minister has been asked to self isolate as well as her immediate contacts. According to the statements of media secretary at the Ministry of Health, she took two COVID-19 tests and both turned positive.
Earlier, Madagascar's President Andry Rajoeline also had promoted a herbal concoction as a cure for the virus. Hence the Sri Lanka minister's incident is not the first one. Many people, famous and laymen have tried endorsing uncertified herbal medicines as a cure for the virus.
Sri Lanka has approved the emergency use of the Oxford manufactured vaccination against coronavirus in the nation. The first batch is likely to arrive the nest week.
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