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Monday, 8 February 2021 00:30 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}
By Shailendree Wickrama Adittiya
The total COVID-19 patient count rose to 69,348 with the detection of 1,498 patients over the weekend, including 772 COVID-19 positive persons detected yesterday.
According to the Department of Government Information, the 772 persons were associates of the Peliyagoda COVID-19 cluster. This expands the Divulapitiya, Peliyagoda, and Prisons COVID-19 clusters to 65,347 patients.
A total of 726 COVID-19 patients were detected on Saturday, all of whom were associates of the Peliyagoda COVID-19 cluster. According to the Department of Government Information, 197 of the patients were from Badulla, 116 were from Colombo, 101 were from Gampaha, 88 were from Kurunegala, and 63 were from Kandy.
The Epidemiology Unit’s district distribution of COVID-19 patients shows that a total of 24,798 persons have tested positive for the virus from Colombo, along with 13,774 persons from Gampaha, 4,703 persons from Kalutara, and 2,800 persons from Kandy.
The Epidemiology Unit adds that 5,591 persons are currently under medical care, including 309 persons at the Neville Fernando Teaching Hospital, 303 persons at the Giriulla Treatment Centre, and 247 persons at the Punani Treatment Centre.
Hospitals are also monitoring 720 persons suspected of having COVID-19.
The country’s total COVID-19 recoveries have risen to 63,401, with 72 persons from the Panideniya Treatment Centre, 67 persons from the Bingiriya Treatment Centre, 42 persons from the Gallela Treatment Centre, and 42 persons from the Koggala Beach Hotel among persons discharged yesterday.
In addition to this, the Health Promotion Bureau states that 1,804,873 PCR tests have been performed in the island to date, including 15,746 tests on Saturday.
Public Health Inspectors’ Union (PHI Union) President Upul Rohana yesterday raised concerns regarding delays in laboratory reports being issued, saying: “It takes a minimum of five days for a laboratory report to be issued, with instances of 15-day durations observed in some districts in the country. There are also reports of samples given for PCR testing getting displaced.”
He explained that, in addition to the five days taken to issue a report, between two and five days are taken to allocate treatment facilities to a patient, where the patient spends eight to nine days. Upul Rohana added that there are instances where an individual spends only one day at a treatment centre.
“If there is in any way a delay in receiving laboratory reports, in some instances the individual will not be required to spend ten days in a treatment centre. This situation must be corrected and arrangements are being made in this regard,” Chief Epidemiologist Dr. Sudath Samaraweera stated.
According to Police Spokesperson DIG Ajith Rohana, rapid antigen tests were yesterday performed at random in public places in Colombo like Galle Face, Fort, Pettah and Town Hall. He added that quarantine operations and programs will continue in Colombo as well as the Western Province and the rest of the island.
“A special operation is to be carried out [today] whereby drivers, conductors and assistants of school transport services will be subjected to rapid antigen tests at random,” DIG Rohana added.
He went on to say that public and private establishments as well as long-distance buses leaving Colombo will be inspected to ensure adherence to safety regulations.
“In the past 24 hours, 11 persons were arrested for not wearing face masks or maintaining social distancing and a total of 3,021 persons have been arrested thus far. These arrests were made since 30 October 2020.”
Meanwhile, the National Operations Centre for the Prevention of the COVID-19 Outbreak (NOCPCO) yesterday made changes to the isolation status in several areas. As such, Gothamipura 24 Watte, Gothamipura 78 Watte, Gothamipura Flats, and Weluwana Road, Dematagoda in the Borella Police Division will no longer be under isolation.
Areas in the Minuwangoda and Pugoda Police Divisions and the Ambalanthota Divisional Secretariat Division have also been released from isolation.
