Thursday Apr 25, 2024
Thursday Apr 25, 2024
Monday, 1 June 2020 00:30 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}
By Asiri Fernando
Sri Lanka yesterday reported 13 new COVID-19 cases, raising the total cumulative number to 1633, as the Government prepared for the possibility of more patients in tandem with planned repatriation of additional stranded nationals from overseas.
The repatriation of Sri Lankans will continue systematically, Cabinet Spokesman Bandula Gunawardana said last week. The Government has also moved to establish a COVID-19 PCR test facility at the Bandaranaike International Airport (BIA) in the coming days. Over 45,000 Sri Lankans residing overseas have expressed their desire to return home due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
However, lapses in implementing COVID-19 test facilities at the BIA were highlighted by a letter sent to the President yesterday by the Sri Lanka Association of Government Medial Laboratory Technologists. The Association has pointed out that the need for such a test facility was highlighted by them in letters sent in March and April as well.
Separately, the Public Health Inspectors Union yesterday warned that a new COVID-19 wave could result from masses attending the funeral program of late Parliamentarian Arumugam Thondaman in breach of public health regulations, and charged that all who attended in an unsafe manner should be charged under the quarantine regulation laws if any patients are detected from that area.
Issuing a statement yesterday, the PHIs Union also allege that Director General of Health Services Dr. Anil Jasinghe had been reached on the telephone by persons close to the late Thondaman, who had threatened him. The PHIs called for an investigation to bring to book those persons who attempted to obstruct the official duties of a public official during this crucial time.
The Epidemiology Unit of the Health Ministry said 9 out of the 13 confirmed patients yesterday were repatriated Sri Lankans. The other four were Navy personnel, over 340 of whom are separately undergoing treatment after being tested positive in recent weeks.
Twenty infected patients recovered yesterday, pushing the total number of patients discharged to 801. Furthermore 822 patients remain under treatment nine specialised hospitals countrywide. Ten patients have succumbed to the virus so far.
Given the spike in new patients, Sri Lanka’s COVID-19 recovery rate has dropped to 49.14% from 56.8% the week before. However, in comparison, Sri Lanka leads the global recovery rate by 5%.
Of the 822 patients, a majority of 148 are being treated at National Institute of Infectious Disease (NIID), with 99 at the Hambantota District General Hospital, 95 at Homagama Base Hospital, 92 at Kattankudy Base Hospital, and another 98 at the Welikanda Base.
The National Operations Centre for the Prevention of COVID19 (NOCPOC) said yesterday 231 persons who completed the quarantine program were released from six centres after being subjected to PCR tests for COVID-19. A total of 11,483 persons have completed quarantine program and returned home as of last evening. 5,087 remain in quarantine at 46 centres managed by the armed forces.
According to the NOCPOC, an army officer who was exposed to COVID-19 while on duty at the BIA has been admitted for treatment at NIID. Over 400 infected sailors have been moved into post-treatment quarantine, after recovering from the virus and being subjected to PCR tests, whilst 347 sailors remain under care.
