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Friday May 03, 2024
Saturday, 6 March 2021 00:30 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}
By Shailendree Wickrama Adittiya
A total of 350 persons tested positive for COVID-19 yesterday, bringing the total number of patients detected in the island to 84,960.
Among the patients detected yesterday are 325 associates of the Peliyagoda COVID-19 cluster and 13 persons linked to the prisons cluster. The triple clusters have thus risen to 80,733 patients.
A total of 2,118 Sri Lankan returnees from abroad, 950 Navy personnel and their contacts, 651 persons linked to the Kandakadu cluster, and 183 foreigners have also tested positive for COVID-19 in the island.
Of the total patients, 28,392 persons are from Colombo District, 16,820 persons are from Gampaha District, 6,225 persons are from Kalutara District, 3,960 persons are from Kandy District, and 2,400 persons are from Kurunegala District.
The district distribution of patients includes the 384 persons who tested positive for COVID-19 on Thursday. Of the patients, 78 were from Colombo, 64 were from Ratnapura, 35 were from Kandy, 21 were from Gampaha, and 19 were from Badulla. The patients detected from Colombo include 10 from Piliyandala and eight from Pannipitiya.
According to the Health Promotion Bureau, 13,049 PCR tests were performed on Thursday.
The Epidemiology Unit states that 3,146 patients are currently under medical care. The active patients include 220 persons at the Hambantota District General Hospital, 182 persons at the Warakapola Base Hospital, and 165 persons at the Kahawatte Treatment Centre. Hospitals are also monitoring 609 persons suspected of having COVID-19.
A total of 34 COVID-19 patients were recently detected from the Cancer Unit of the Badulla Provincial General Hospital. The patients included staff and patients. According to the Uva Province Coordinator of the Government Medical Officers’ Association (GMOA) Dr. Palitha Rajapaksha, two wards of the hospital have been isolated and it is not yet apparent how the patients were exposed to the COVID-19.
“Cancer patients are a group that are at high risk of dying from any disease, so this virus spreading among them is a serious issue. However, we are taking all measures to control complications that can arise due to the contraction of this disease,” he said.
According to the Epidemiology Unit, 485 persons were discharged from treatment centres yesterday. This includes 40 persons from the Yakkala Treatment Centre, 40 persons from the Rambukkana Treatment Centre, and 39 persons from the Warakapola Base Hospital. The total number of COVID-19 recoveries currently stands at 81,321.
A total of 650,991 persons have been vaccinated to date, including 51,000 persons who received the AstraZeneca vaccine on Thursday, Deputy Director General of Health Services Dr. Hemantha Herath said.
He added that autopsies carried out on the bodies of two persons who died two days after receiving the COVID-19 vaccine in Gampaha revealed the cause of death is not connected to the vaccine and that people need not fear the vaccine.
Meanwhile, Sunethra Gunawardena was yesterday appointed secretary of the Primary Health Care, Epidemics and COVID Disease Control State Ministry after Dr. Amal Harsha de Silva was removed from the post.
Claims circulating on social media linked his removal from the post to controversy related to vaccines, but Dr. de Silva denied these claims. According to Dr. de Silva, he has been given a position at a different Ministry.
Primary Health Care, Epidemics and COVID Disease Control State Minister Dr. Sudarshini Fernandopulle stated that the President can appoint and remove individuals from such positions depending on the requirement.
“There is a loss in not having Amal Harsha as the secretary as he knows about the health sector and the system. I think it would be better to have him,” she added.
According to a statement issued by the State Ministry yesterday, Sunethra Gunawardena has 31 years of experience in the public sector and previously assumed the position of secretary of the Batik, Handloom Fabric and Local Apparel Products State Ministry.
