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PCR testing being conducted on the Colombo Municipal Council (CMC) employees at the CMC premises yesterday. Seen here is a health officer collecting a swab sample from a CMC employee
By Shailendree Wickrama Adittiya
The Divulapitiya cluster has expanded to 1,034 with 202 more persons connected to the garment manufacturing facility testing positive for COVID-19 yesterday.
This makes it the largest cluster identified in the island thus far, with the Welisara Naval Camp cluster affecting 950 Navy personnel and their contacts and the Kandakadu Treatment and Rehabilitation Centre cluster affecting 651 persons.
The cases identified yesterday bring the total number of COVID-19 cases identified in the island to 4,459, with 207 cases identified yesterday. According to the Epidemiology Unit, 1,172 persons are currently receiving treatment at various hospitals, while 201 persons are being monitored over
suspicions of having COVID-19.
A 64-year-old woman from the Yakkala area who is the mother of a COVID-19 patient has died after entering the Galakanda Quarantine Centre.
Army Commander and National Operation Centre for the Prevention of COVID-19 Outbreak (NOCPCO) Head Lt. Gen. Shavendra Silva yesterday stated that finding the source of the cluster was extremely important but proving to be difficult given the large number of patients.
“There is some difficulty in finding the source because a large number of patients are being identified. If one patient is identified, it is easier to find the source, but when 101 patients are identified at once, we need to trace back all 101 persons to find the source,” he said, adding that the large numbers of patients being identified every few hours meant that the focus group of investigations kept expanding.
Silva added that all employees, including full-time and temporary employees, of the garment manufacturing facility have now been subjected to PCR tests. All results of the full-time employees have been received. He denied allegations of foreign workers at the factory but noted there had been complaints of workers exhibiting symptoms of the virus since 21 September.
He went on to state that the janitorial staff member of the Bandaranaike International Airport who tested positive for the virus yesterday were believed to have gone to a place of accommodation shared by employees of the garment manufacturing facility, including those who had tested positive for COVID-19.
The Army Commander added that repatriation efforts will continue and the NOCPCO yesterday stated that 285 persons arrived from South Korea yesterday morning and have been directed to quarantine centres.
The NOCPCO added that 46 persons left quarantine centres yesterday and a further 7,356 persons remain at 77 centres. A total of 49,416 persons have completed quarantine at centres to date.
In addition to this, eight persons left hospitals yesterday having recovered from the virus, bringing the total number of COVID-19 recoveries to 3,274.
While investigations to locate the source of the spread continue, the Sri Lanka Police yesterday announced that indefinite curfew has been imposed in 18 Police jurisdictions yesterday, including Seeduwa in the Negombo Division, Ja-Ela and Kandana in the Kelaniya Division, and Divulapitiya in the Negombo Division.
Curfew has also been imposed in Gampaha, Ganemulla, Kirindiwela, Dompe, Malwatuhiripitiya, Meerigama, Nittambuwa, Pugoda, Veyangoda, Minuwangoda, Viragula, Weliweriya, Pallewela and Yakkala in the Gampaha Division.
While curfew is in place, persons of these areas will not be permitted to leave the house and no one can enter or exit these areas. Long distance buses will be permitted to travel through these areas but buses and trains will not be permitted to stop or pick or drop passengers.
Court proceedings in these areas will be taken up on a future date and all information will be displayed at court premises, as per instructions from the Judicial Service Commission.
The Sri Lanka Police yesterday sought public assistance to locate a 62-year-old individual from Peliyagoda who had tested positive for COVID-19. According to the Police, the individual had fled the Ragama Hospital on Tuesday night. The search ended when the individual arrived at the Ragama Hospital outpatient unit yesterday evening.
The Sri Lanka Police has also established a Police control centre and Police command centre at the Police Headquarters in efforts to control the spread of the COVID-19 virus by facilitating the submission of information by the public.
According to a statement issued by the Police Headquarters, the control centre can be contacted directly on 1933 and +94 71 8592 717 and the command centre can be contacted on 11 2444 480 (extension 3033).
The Sri Lanka Police also said strict legal action will be taken against anyone who conceals information regarding COVID-19 from the authorities. This includes information about their own health condition, persons who display symptoms of COVID-19, places they have visited, and persons they have associated.
“The Police, Defence officials, and health officials are taking necessary measures regarding the COVID-19 situation in the country. When looking into this, it has been reported that some parties and some individuals are concealing information. We would like to mention that any persons found concealing such information will face strict legal action,” DIG Ajith Rohana said.
The Health Ministry also issued a statement on patients refusing to be taken to treatment facilities in ambulance services arranged by the Ministry, adding that refusing treatment was a punishable offence.
The Ministry, in a separate statement, announced that the Neville Fernando Teaching Hospital (NFTH) has been converted to a COVID-19 treatment facility. The three-complex hospital has 400 beds dedicated for the treatment of COVID-19 patients.
Explaining that the hospital can provide better comforts for patients, Health Minister Pavithra Wanniarachchi said: “When the number of COVID-19 patients started increasing in the country, the President advised us to use the Neville Fernando Teaching Hospital for the treatment of COVID-19 patients.”
Meanwhile the National Eye Hospital yesterday requested the public to only visit the hospital for clinical treatment and essential services or in case of an accident. The public has also been asked to refrain from bringing children aged below 14 years to the hospital unnecessarily and any person in need of specialised treatment will be required to produce a letter from their specialist.
For all other treatment, persons are requested to visit eye clinics at the State hospital closest to them.
The Buddhasasana, Religious, and Cultural Affairs Ministry also requested the public to refrain from visiting or gathering at places of worship. When observing religious rituals or visiting places of worship, persons are required to wear face masks, maintain social distancing, and follow safety guidelines issued by the health authorities.
In addition to this, the Department of Government Information yesterday stated that revenue licenses for vehicles registered in the Western Province will not be issued until 16 October and that fines will not be imposed until 15 October.
