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Saturday, 12 December 2020 00:30 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}
By Shailendree Wickrama Adittiya
Over 700 persons tested positive for COVID-19 in Sri Lanka yesterday, expanding the Divulapitiya, Peliyagoda and Prisons clusters to 27,747.
The Department of Government Information stated that the persons who tested positive yesterday include 687 persons linked to the Peliyagoda cluster and 75 persons linked to the Prisons cluster. A total of 762 patients were detected yesterday.
According to the Epidemiology Unit, 31,375 persons have tested positive for COVID-19 to date. While the majority of cases belongs to the Divulapitiya, Peliyagoda, and Prisons clusters, 1,594 are Sri Lankan returnees from abroad, 950 are Navy personnel and their close contacts, 651 are persons linked to the Kandakadu cluster, and 121 are foreigners.
Of the total COVID-19 patients, 8,398 are currently under medical care. This includes 592 persons at the Punani Treatment Centre, 469 persons at the Kandakadu Treatment Centre, and 437 persons at the Bingiriya Treatment Centre.
Hospitals are also monitoring 604 persons suspected of having COVID-19.
The Epidemiology Unit adds that hospitals discharged 570 persons yesterday. This includes 126 persons from the Kahagolla Treatment Centre, 47 persons from the Kopai Treatment Centre, 45 persons from the Kahawatte Treatment Centre, and 38 persons from the Gallela Treatment Centre.
The total number of COVID-19 recoveries in the island is 22,831.
“Now that we have crossed the 30,000 patient mark, we have a huge challenge ahead of us to ensure a situation like in other countries does not occur here. Considering the nature of patients identified in Sri Lanka, many can have a suspicion that we are moving towards such a situation and that suspicion is justified,” Government Medical Officers’ Association (GMOA) Editor Dr. Haritha Aluthge said yesterday.
He added that a clear statement must be made on the current situation in the country and the risk faced by the country.
According to the Health Promotion Bureau, 13,864 PCR tests were carried out on Thursday, bringing the total number of tests carried out in the island to 971,539.
Colombo District Secretary Pradeep Yasarathna yesterday stated that 5,000 families in isolated housing schemes have been tested through a testing strategy where a member from each housing unit is subjected to testing. If the individual tests positive via a PCR or rapid antigen test, the remaining family members are also tested.
He added that a positive decision with regard to isolated flats was expected.
“The spread of this disease is seen mostly in flats and urban estates in the Colombo Divisional Secretariat, Thimbirigasyaya Divisional Secretariat and the Kolonnawa Divisional Secretariat. The State has provided necessary funding to provide essential food items for persons in areas isolated in the Colombo city, owners of apartment housing, persons in urban estates as well as low income families on a weekly basis,” Yasarathna stated.
He went on to say that the relevant Divisional Secretariats have made necessary arrangements to provide families with essential food items until isolation is lifted.
On Thursday, when 538 persons tested positive for COVID-19 in the island, 304 patients were detected from the Colombo District. While 28 patients were detected from Gampaha and 27 from Kalutara, 38 patients were identified from Kandy.
Despite this, 42 schools within the Kandy city limits will reopen on Monday and only three schools will remain closed. According to Central Province Governor Lalith U. Gamage, schools will function at 50% capacity and students attending school on a particular day will not be required to attend the following day.
According to the Epidemiology Unit, 12,643 persons from the Colombo District have tested positive for COVID-19 to date, along with 6,962 persons from the Gampaha District, 1,545 persons from the Kalutara District, and 802 persons from the Kandy District.
Meanwhile, the National Operations Centre for the Prevention of the COVID-19 Outbreak (NOCPCO) stated that 6,896 persons are currently undergoing quarantine at 65 centres in the country. They added that 46 persons from Qatar arrived in the island last morning.
Over 250 arrivals were expected throughout the day, including 79 from Australia, 70 from the United Kingdom, 64 from Italy, 40 from Maldives, 30 from China, 12 from Japan, and four from Malaysia. All overseas arrivals will be required to undergo quarantine at a centre.
