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Wednesday, 23 December 2020 00:00 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}
By Shailendree Wickrama Adittiya
The COVID-19 clusters that emerged from Divulapitiya, Peliyagoda and Prisons exceeded 34,000 patients yesterday, with 427 persons testing positive during the day.
Since the first patient was detected on 4 October, the triple clusters have reached a patient count of 34,381. The Department of Government Information stated that 382 patients detected yesterday were associates of the Peliyagoda cluster while 35 were linked to the Prisons cluster.
A total of 38,058 persons have tested positive for COVID-19 to date and this includes 1,638 Sri Lankan returnees from abroad, 950 Navy personnel and their contacts, 651 persons linked to the Kandakadu cluster, and 126 foreigners.
According to the Epidemiology Unit, 8,577 persons are currently receiving treatment at various centres, including 663 persons at the Punani Treatment Centre, 488 persons at the Bingiriya Treatment Centre, 444 persons at the Neville Fernando Hospital, and 416 persons at the Gallela Treatment Centre.
Hospitals are also monitoring 442 persons suspected of having COVID-19.
The Epidemiology Unit adds that 618 persons were discharged from treatment centres yesterday. Among the recoveries were 95 persons from the Punani Treatment Centre, 39 persons from the Hikkaduwa Treatment Centre, and 35 persons from the Neville Fernando Hospital.
The total COVID-19 recoveries in the country is 29,300.
According to the Health Promotion Bureau, 1,124,871 PCR tests have been carried out to date, including 11,672 tests on Monday.
Police Spokesperson DIG Ajith Rohana yesterday said that rapid antigen tests are carried out regularly on persons leaving the Western Province. While there have been four testing points thus far, random testing will be carried out at 11 exit points starting today.
Rapid antigen testing will also be carried out on the expressway.
The purpose of these measures, he said, was to identify patients and prevent the emergence of sub-clusters. DIG Ajith Rohana added that 17 persons were arrested within a 24-hour period for failing to wear face masks or maintain social distancing. A total of 1,675 arrests have been made since 31 October for the same offences.
Persons from the Western Province have been cautioned against leaving the Western Province due to the risk of spreading COVID-19 to other parts of the island.
While National Operations Centre for the Prevention of the COVID-19 Outbreak (NOCPCO) Head Lt. Gen. Shavendra Silva yesterday stated that the authorities had no intention of enforcing quarantine curfew, isolation or travel restrictions during the festive season, he added that a decision would be taken based on the situation.
Silva added that the public was expected to understand the current situation in the country and act accordingly.
According to the Epidemiology Unit, 15,684 persons from the Colombo District, 8,111 persons from Gampaha, and 2,524 persons from Kalutara have tested positive for COVID-19 to date. This includes 101 persons from Colombo, 67 persons from Gampaha, and 46 persons from Kalutara who were among Monday’s 370 COVID-19 patients.
The district and medical officer of health categorisation of confirmed COVID-19 patients published by the Epidemiology Unit on 19 December shows several areas in the country as high risk areas, with patients detected in the last 14 days.
Nineteen areas in Colombo, including the Colombo Municipal Council, Hanwella, Dehiwala and Moratuwa, 15 areas in Gampaha, including Mahara, Kelaniya Biyagama, and Divilapitiya, and 14 areas in Kalutara, including Bandaragama, Bulathsinhala and Kalutara, are among the high risk areas. In terms of repatriation, the NOCPCO stated that 50 persons from the United Arab Emirates, 27 persons from Lebanon and 35 persons from Qatar arrived in the island last morning. Over 400 arrivals, including 26 persons from the United Kingdom, were expected later in the day.
The NOCPCO adds that 6,473 persons are currently undergoing quarantine at 72 centres.
In terms of capacity expansions of treatment facilities, the National Hospital of Sri Lanka (NHSL) yesterday received a PCR machine worth Rs. 5 million from Hemas Holdings upon a request made by the Sri Lanka Heart Association.
According to a statement issued by the Health Ministry, this would enable the NHSL to test PCR samples, thus expanding the country’s daily testing capacity.
