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Wednesday, 9 December 2020 00:30 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}
By Shailendree Wickrama Adittiya
Over 700 persons tested positive for COVID-19 yesterday, bringing the total number of patients identified from the Divulapitiya, Peliyagoda and Prisons COVID-19 clusters to 25,822.
According to the Department of Government Information, 798 patients were detected yesterday. This includes 567 persons from the Peliyagoda COVID-19 cluster and 230 persons from the Prisons COVID-19 cluster.
The total number of COVID-19 patients identified in the island now stands at 29,378. In addition to the current cluster, the total includes 1,523 Sri Lanka returnees from overseas, 950 Navy personnel and their contacts, 651 persons linked to the Kandakadu cluster and 119 foreigners.
Of the total COVID-19 patients, 7,978 are currently receiving medical care at 61 centres in the country. According to the Epidemiology Unit, the active patients include 494 persons at the Bingiriya Treatment Centre, 471 persons at the Kandakadu Treatment Centre, and 444 persons at the Punani Treatment Centre.
Hospitals are also monitoring 566 persons suspected of having COVID-19.
The Epidemiology Unit states that 454 persons were discharged from various hospitals yesterday, including 87 persons from the Punani Treatment Centre, 52 persons from the Kattankudy Hospital, and 45 persons from the Gallela Treatment Centre.
The total number of COVID-19 recoveries stands at 21,258.
The Epidemiology Unit adds that 11,473 COVID-19 patients have been identified from the Colombo District to date, along with 6,628 patients from the Gampaha District and 1,339 patients from the Kalutara District.
The highest number of COVID-19 patients detected outside the Western Province is from the Kandy District, where 709 patients have been detected. According to the Epidemiology Unit, 370 patients from Kurunegala, 281 patients from Puttalam, and 280 patients from Galle have also been identified.
The total count includes the 703 COVID-19 patients identified on Monday, of which, 371 were from the Colombo District. While 192 patients were detected from Borella alone, 32 were from Slave Island, 31 were from Dematagoda, and 27 were from Avissawella. A total of 102 persons tested positive for COVID-19 from Gampaha District on Monday, of which 49 were from Mahara, in addition to 64 patients from Kalutara, 51 from Ampara, and 46 from Hambantota.
According to the Department of Government Information, 237 persons linked to the Prisons COVID-19 cluster tested positive for the virus on Monday.
According to the Health Promotion Bureau, 917,741 PCR tests have been carried out in the island to date. “In 24 laboratories, 13,831 PCR tests were carried out [on Monday] and the program to increase testing in the Colombo municipal area started [on Monday]. It is including this that we were able to carry out a total daily PCR tests close to 14,000,” Deputy Director General of Public Health Services Dr. Hemantha Herath stated.
According to Police Spokesperson DIG Ajith Rohana, PCR and rapid antigen testing was carried out on Monday in flats in Modara and Mattakkuliya and health authorities are expected to make a decision regarding isolated housing schemes after analysing the test results.
“In the past few days in Colombo, we saw some disturbance around certain apartments and estates. If someone’s freedom is restricted for a long time, it affects them in different ways. We accept this,” he said, adding that despite relief from the Government and voluntary organisations, persons in isolated areas may face certain shortages and would also want to live without restrictions.
The Police Spokesperson went on to request individuals living in isolated areas to cooperate with authorities for at least another week and inform the Police or local government bodies of shortages.
According to the National Operations Centre for the Prevention of COVID-19 Outbreak (NOCPCO), 436 overseas arrivals landed in the country last morning, with 172 arrivals expected over the course of the day. This includes 288 persons from Bahrain, 148 persons from Qatar, 56 persons from the United Kingdom, 54 persons from Abu Dhabi, 34 persons from Italy, and 28 persons from India.
While all overseas arrivals have been directed for quarantine, 6,878 persons are currently undergoing the process at 64 quarantine centres, the NOCPCO stated. Given the high number of patients detected outside of quarantine, Government Medical Officers’ Association (GMOA) Editor Dr. Haritha Aluthge yesterday said there are COVID-19 patients in the community.
“However, whether this has developed to community transmission and affected the country’s standing according to the revised guidelines issued by the World Health Organisation is something the Epidemiology Unit has not stated yet,” he said.
At the press briefing on Cabinet decisions held yesterday, Co-Cabinet Spokesman Dr. Ramesh Pathirana spoke about the COVAX, led by the Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations (CEPI), Gavi, and the WHO, to ensure global equitable access to COVID-19 vaccines. “WHO has prepared a method to equally distribute the vaccine to countries and the Health Ministry has discussed with WHO and made requests about receiving our share of it,” he said, adding that the WHO was already making arrangements in this regard.
“Alongside this, there is discourse on local Ayurveda products and the Government is considering them in a positive manner,” Dr. Pathirana added.
He explained that a placebo-controlled double-blind randomised clinical trial was necessary before products can be used for treatment. The Co-Cabinet Spokesperson also showed confidence that the country as well as the world will be rid of the virus in a period of three to six months.
