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Wednesday Apr 24, 2024
Monday, 16 November 2020 00:30 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}
By Shailendree Wickrama Adittiya
The total number of COVID-19 patients identified in the island exceeded 17,000 with 704 persons testing positive for the virus yesterday.
According to the Department of Government Information, all infected persons identified yesterday are associates of the Peliyagoda COVID-19 cluster. The dual cluster that emerged from Divulapitiya and Peliyagoda has thus expanded to 13,788 cases.
This brings the total number of COVID-19 cases identified in the island to 17,287, which includes 1,484 Sri Lankan returnees from abroad, 950 Navy personnel and their contacts, 651 persons connected to the Kandakadu cluster, and 102 foreigners.
At present, 5,734 persons are receiving treatment for COVID-19 at 54 dedicated centres, including 478 persons at the Punani Treatment Centre, 366 persons at the Bingiriya Treatment Centre, 349 persons at the Neville Fernando Teaching Hospital, 246 persons at the Kalutara Police Training School, and 213 persons at the Kamburugamuwa Hospital. Hospitals are also monitoring 562 persons suspected of having COVID-19.
Meanwhile, the COVID-19 recoveries yesterday rose to 11,495, with hospitals discharging 171 persons. This includes 57 persons from the Neville Fernando Teaching Hospital, 17 persons from the Rambukkana Treatment Centre, and 11 persons from the Iranawila Hospital.
According to the Health Promotion Bureau, 661,387 PCR tests have been carried out in the island to date, including 11,130 tests on Saturday. While 392 cases were identified on Saturday, four of them were identified among police personnel.Saturday’s cases also include 94 cases from prisons and a total of 437 persons have tested positive for COVID-19 from prisons to date. It was yesterday stated that leave for prisons officers has been cancelled and all officers were required to report for duty by 8 a.m. today.
The National Operations Centre for the Prevention of the COVID-19 Outbreak (NOCPCO) yesterday said 30,000 first and second contacts of COVID-19 infected persons are currently undergoing self-quarantine, while 2,950 persons are undergoing the process at 31 centres.
The NOCPCO added that 79 persons from the UAE, 41 persons from Qatar, and one person from Maldives who arrived in the island yesterday were directed to quarantine centres.
Meanwhile, the Department of Government Information (DGI) yesterday issued a statement on the Government relief programs targeting persons affected by COVID-19. According to the statement, Rs. 68 billion has been allocated for these relief programs between 31 March and 13 November.
The DGI adds that a Rs. 5,000 allowance was provided to 11 million low-income families in April and May and 1.4 million families in October and November. In addition to this, 46,411 families directed for home-quarantine have each received provisions worth Rs. 10,000.
In terms of quarantine measures, infrastructure, and medical supplies, the Health Ministry expenses were Rs. 4.3 billion, the DGI states, adding that other facilities provided to the public by District and Divisional Secretariats amounted to Rs. 78 million.
In addition to this, the Agriculture Ministry spent Rs. 126 million to purchase agricultural products in order to provide relief to farmers affected by the current situation in the country.
