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Thursday May 02, 2024
Tuesday, 16 March 2021 01:34 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}
By Shailendree Wickrama Adittiya
The Epidemiology Unit yesterday stated that 331 COVID-19 positive patients were detected within the day, bringing the total number of patients detected in the island to 88,238.
The patients include 225 associates of the Peliyagoda COVID-19 cluster and 23 persons linked to the Prisons cluster. The Divulapitiya, Peliyagoda and Prisons triple cluster currently stands at 83,746.
COVID-19 patients detected in the island also include 2,303 Sri Lankan returnees from abroad, 950 Navy personnel and their contacts, 651 persons linked to the Kandakadu cluster, and 193 foreigners.
According to the Epidemiology Unit, 2,737 persons are currently under medical care. The active cases include 144 persons at the Warakapola Base Hospital, 137 persons at the Punani Treatment Centre, 118 persons at the Kopai Treatment Centre, and 118 persons at the Krishnapuram Treatment Centre in Kilinochchi.
Hospitals are also monitoring 447 persons suspected of having COVID-19.
The Epidemiology Unit adds that 321 persons were discharged from hospitals yesterday. This includes 45 persons from the Warakapola Base Hospital, 35 persons from the Kopai Treatment Centre, and 19 persons from the Kahawatte Treatment Centre.
The total number of COVID-19 recoveries is 84,969.
According to the Health Promotion Bureau, 8,564 PCR tests were performed on Sunday and 307 COVID-19 patients were detected that day.
The patients include 50 persons from Colombo, 49 persons from Matara, and 47 persons from Gampaha. The patients detected from Colombo include eight persons from Dehiwala, five persons from Boralesgamuwa, and five persons from Hanwella.
According to the district distribution of COVID-19 patients published by the Epidemiology Unit, 28,882 persons from Colombo, 17,361 persons from Gampaha, 6,439 persons from Kalutara, 4,104 persons from Kandy, and 2,608 persons from Ratnapura have tested positive for the virus to date.
Meanwhile, given the forthcoming Sinhala and Tamil New Year festive season, the Government Medical Officers’ Association (GMOA) warned of large numbers travelling into Colombo, thus increasing movement in Colombo. This, they said, could worsen the COVID-19 spread in the country.
“Enforcing movement restrictions is extremely important,” GMOA Assistant Secretary Dr. Samantha Ananda said.
He was also critical of the introduction of quarantine regulations that allowed persons travelling abroad on diplomatic, official and business visits to quarantine at home for seven days instead of undergoing quarantine at a centre for 14 days upon their return to the country.
The GMOA Assistant Secretary said regulations that are introduced should apply to all.
