Chronic patients, should continue to take the prescribed medication even under the prevailing situation due to COVID-19, to eliminate the risk of untimely death in the event of contracting the virus, health authorities have advised.

“The specialty of COVID-19 is that it infects the lungs and at the initial time of infection, one could be asymptomatic while being already exposed to the virus. The Blood Oxygen Level of a normal individual should be over 95%; however, as the infection starts to intensify in the lungs, the SpO2 level will drop below 93%,” Dr. Prasanna Gunasena, the Chairman of State Pharmaceuticals Corporation of Sri Lanka told reporters on Tuesday (Nov. 24).

According to Dr. Gunasena, by monitoring the SpO2 level, one can eliminate the risk of reaching a harmful condition unknowingly, as a result, contracting COVID-19.

“By not seeking medical attention, regardless of whether one is healthy or a chronic patient, the opportunity to detect the virus at the initial time of infection will be missed; leading to an untimely death. Once, it reaches the point where an infected individual experiences difficulty in breathing, providing treatment at hospitals could even be difficult,” Dr. Gunasena further emphasized.

Therefore, Dr. Prasanna Gunasena reiterated that in the event one suspects being exposed to be the virus, he/she must undergo a PCR test immediately and seek medical assistance.