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Thursday, 2 April 2020 00:18 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}
The number of COVID-19 patients grew at a much slower pace yesterday, recording three new cases and bringing the total number to 146 with 123 active cases, but the Government stepped up measures to contain community spread, moving nearly 200 people to quarantine centres.
The third COVID-19 related death took place last night with a 74 year old patient from Maradana passing away at the Infectious Diseases Hospital (IDH). According to the latest figures released by the Health Ministry, 21 people had been discharged after recovering while 231 people have been hospitalised.
The Government yesterday moved 151 persons from Pannila, Beruwela to the Kandekadu Quarantine Centre as a precautionary measure, after six persons who were in touch with a COVID-19 infected person tested positive for the virus.
The move comes as Sri Lanka prepares for a possible 'surge' period of COVID-19 patients in the coming days, with the Government Medial Officers Association (GMOA) calling for more 'offensive and defensive' action to be taken at national level to prevent the virus reaching stage 3B, where multiple positive cases are reported at village level. The GMOA called for decisive action to be taken to mitigate the impact of the spread, and to keep the numbers at a manageable level.
The medical professionals’ body called on the Government to urgently expand testing for COVID-19, and to test those contacts who are high-risk without waiting for them to develop symptoms of the virus, so that they can be isolated much earlier, thereby preventing the virus spreading further.
Public health officers also warned that several villages in Beruwela area will have be put under isolation if the residents do not take curfew regulations seriously. The Government also moved 42 persons who are suspected to have come into contact with COVID-19 patients to the Punani quarantine centre as a precautionary measure.
The sudden spike in the number of confirmed cases (21) on Tuesday was addressed by the Government at a press conference held yesterday. National Operations Centre for the Prevention of COVID-19 Head Army Commander Lt. Gen. Shavendra Silva explained that an infected person who had returned to the island recently had passed on the virus to 10 others, who were detected yesterday due to selected testing of people who were in touch with him. Of the 10, 7 males and 3 females were rushed to specially-equipped hospitals for treatment.
Health authorities have identified 68 persons who were in touch with the COVID-19 patient and had moved them to a makeshift quarantine centre established at Zahira College in Puttalam. Speaking to the press at the National Operations Centre for the Prevention of COVID-19, Lt. Gen. Silva said that 10 persons out of 19 who were tested for the virus returned positive reports. "On Tuesday we requested the heath authorities to check 19 persons who were in touch with a confirmed patient but were not yet showing symptoms; they did so, and we found 10 out of the 19 tested positive for COVID-19," he said.
In total, the 21 who tested positive for COVID-19 are: 3 from Akurana, 10 from Puttalam, 6 from Beruwela, and 2 from flight OD-185.
The COVID-19 infected person had returned to the island on 19 March aboard Malaysian Airlines flight OD-185, prompting the Government to urge 37 persons who returned with him to immediately register themselves and their families with public health officials, and enter into a 14-day at-home quarantine program.
Speaking at the press conference, Police Spokesman DIG Ajith Rohana commended those who returned to the island between 16-19 March heeding the call to register with local public health officials. "A total of 2913 persons who returned between 16-19 March have registered, and we will take action against those who have not," he stated. DIG Rohana also stressed the need to follow curfew regulations in spite of hardships during a national crisis.
In light of the prevailing situation, the Government yesterday extended the curfew regulations covering the island until 6 April, and said that Colombo, Gampaha, Kalutara, Negombo, Puttalam and Jaffna Districts, which have been identified as high-risk areas, will remain under curfew until further notice. However, Lt. Gen. Silva stated that the Army will work with Grama Niladharis to ensure pensioners get transport to collect their pensions, which will be remitted into accounts today and tomorrow. Pharmacies have also been permitted to remain open to issue pensioners with the medicines they require during the two days.
According to the Army, 86 persons who completed the mandatory 14-day quarantine program at several centres run by the military were released today, after completing a medical check-up. A total of 2118 persons have completed the quarantine program and returned home up to date, while 1,794 remain in quarantine at 33 centres.
