Thursday Apr 18, 2024
Thursday Apr 18, 2024
Monday, 19 April 2021 02:08 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}
By Shailendree Wickrama Adittiya
A total of 610 persons tested positive for COVID-19 over the weekend and the number of COVID-19 positive persons detected in the island has risen to 96,796.
The 357 patients detected yesterday include 281 persons from sub-clusters related to the Peliyagoda cluster and six persons from the Prisons cluster.
On Saturday, 200 persons from sub-clusters related to the Peliyagoda cluster, 46 Sri Lankan returnees from abroad, four persons from the Prisons cluster, and three foreigners tested positive for COVID-19.
A total of 91,343 persons have been detected from the Divulapitiya, Peliyagoda and Prisons clusters to date.
In addition to the triple clusters, 3,204 Sri Lankan returnees from abroad, 950 Navy personnel and their contacts, 651 persons linked to the Kandakadu cluster, and 265 foreigners have also tested positive for COVID-19 in the island to date.
At present, 3,065 COVID-19 positive persons are under medical care and 411 persons suspected of having the virus are under observation. The active patients include 138 persons at the Dambadeniya Treatment Centre, 131 persons at the Kopai Treatment Centre, and 128 persons at the Giriulla Treatment Centre.
Hospitals discharged 281 persons yesterday, including 71 persons from the Dambadeniya Treatment Centre, 38 persons from the Embilipitiya Treatment Centre, and 33 persons from the Kopai Treatment Centre. The country’s total COVID-19 recoveries currently stand at 93,113.
According to the Epidemiology Unit, the district distribution of COVID-19 patients records 30,495 persons from Colombo, 18,683 persons from Gampaha, 6,805 persons from Kalutara, 4,276 persons from Kandy, and 3,047 persons from Ratnapura.
This includes the 253 COVID-19 positive persons detected on Saturday, of which 57 were from Colombo, 33 were from Kurunegala, and 22 were from Gampaha. On Saturday, 6,578 PCR tests were performed in the island. The Public Health Inspectors Union (PHI Union) over the weekend warned of signs of an increase in COVID-19 patients, especially in the Western Province, North Western Province, Northern Province, and Eastern Province. According to PHI Union President Upul Rohana, patients are also being identified from Public and private sector organisations.
He also raised concerns about testing saying: “Samples are clearly not being collected for random testing in the country and we saw [on Saturday] messages being exchanged in certain provincial councils on refraining from collecting samples for random testing. We believe that a higher number of patients will be detected if random testing is carried out.”
Meanwhile, health authorities yesterday urged the public to adhere to safety guidelines, especially in the weeks following the Sinhala and Tamil New Year.
“We saw a decrease in adherence to safety guidelines during the Sinhala and Tamil New Year and under such conditions, an increase in the number of COVID-19 patients in the island can be expected in the next four to six weeks,” Chief Epidemiologist Dr. Sudath Samaraweera said.
He added that a large number of people will gather in Colombo today with several organisations resuming operations. Since there could be COVID-19 positive persons among these crowds, persons must refrain from making physical contact when greeting each other.
National Operations Centre for the Prevention of COVID-19 Outbreak (NOCPCO) Gen. Shavendra Silva echoed these views, saying people should strictly adhere to safety guidelines in next two to three weeks.
