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Tuesday, 22 December 2020 02:17 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}
By Shailendree Wickrama Adittiya
The Divulapitiya, Peliyagoda and Prisons triple COVID-19 cluster that emerged on 4 October expanded to 33,954 patients with 364 persons testing positive for the virus yesterday.
According to the Department of Government Information, patients detected yesterday include 364 associates of the Peliyagoda COVID-19 cluster.
The total number of patients detected in the island is 37,631, and the patients include 1,632 Sri Lankan returnees from abroad, 950 Navy personnel and their close contacts, 651 persons linked to the Kandakadu cluster and 126 foreigners.
The Epidemiology Unit states that 8,773 persons are currently under medical care at 64 treatment centres in the country, including 758 persons at the Punani Treatment Centre, 499 persons at the Bingiriya Treatment Centre and 453 persons at the Neville Fernando Hospital. Hospitals are also monitoring 433 persons suspected of having COVID-19.
The total number of COVID-19 recoveries in the country yesterday rose to 28,682, with hospitals discharging 415 persons. Yesterday’s recoveries include 36 persons from the Bingiriya Treatment Centre, 29 persons from the Kamburugamuwa Hospital, 26 persons from the Kopai Treatment Centre and 24 persons from the Wathupitiwala Treatment Centre.
The Health Promotion Bureau states that 1,113,199 PCR tests have been carried out to date, including 10,534 tests performed on Sunday. Health Promotion Bureau Director Dr. Palitha Karunapema yesterday asked all persons to limit travel beyond the Western Province due to the high number of patients in the Colombo, Gampaha and Kalutara Districts.
“PCR tests are being carried out at various exit points from the Western Province and this program will be carried out further with the testing points changing depending on the day in order to identify patients,” he added.
According to Dr. Karunapema, 21 COVID-19 patients are currently being treated in intensive care units.
Deputy Director of Health Services Dr. Hemantha Herath stated that testing will also be carried out at random at expressway exit points, especially those outside the Western Province. According to the Epidemiology Unit, 25,863 patients have been detected from the Western Province to date, of which 15,429 were from the Colombo District and 8,011 were from the Gampaha District.
Colombo’s cases included 253 patients detected on Sunday, which comprised of 43 from Borella, 30 from Slave Island, 27 from Bluomendhal and 22 from Mattakkuliya. In addition to this, 124 persons from Gampaha, 62 persons from Kandy, 49 persons from Kalutara and 16 persons from Rathnapura also tested positive for COVID-19 on Sunday.
“We know that movement has not been restricted by law and because of this several people have already planned to travel outside the Western Province for various activities during Christmas and the New Year,” Dr. Herath said, requesting such persons to be responsible and limit unnecessary mingling with persons from those areas.
He added that health authorities are willing to support any scientifically proven measures implemented by local government authorities to prevent the spread of COVID-19 in their respective areas.
Addressing the media, Deputy Directed General of Public Health Services Dr. Susie Perera said the health sector was facing challenges due to the heightened spread of COVID-19 during the second wave of the virus.
“Major restrictions are required in the coming months. With this, we will have to enforce lockdown in various areas,” she added.
Meanwhile, Police Spokesperson DIG Ajith Rohana yesterday said close to 100,000 persons have been directed for home quarantine by health officials.
“If directed for quarantine, persons are not permitted to leave the house and doing so amounts to an offence,” he said, adding that it is also an offence to visit persons undergoing home quarantine.
In addition to this, the State Ministry of Primary Health Care, Epidemics and COVID-19 Disease Control yesterday stated that State Minister Dr. Sudarshini Fernandopulle paid a visit to the Bandaranaike International Airport in order to observe safety measures currently in place, as well as measures that will be taken once overseas tourist arrivals are permitted in the country.
