Saturday Dec 14, 2024
Saturday Dec 14, 2024
Saturday, 25 July 2020 00:30 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}
By Shailendree
Wickrama Adittiya
Eleven persons tested positive for COVID-19 yesterday, including nine persons from the Kandakadu Treatment and Rehabilitation Centre and their contacts, and one overseas returnee.
The new cases have increased the total number of confirmed cases in the country to 2,764, of which 950 are Navy personnel and their close contacts, and 572 are from the Kandakadu cluster or are their close contacts.
In addition to this, 897 Sri Lankan returnees from overseas as well as 31 foreigners have also tested positive for COVID-19.
Fears of community spread arose after an individual who was receiving treatment for COVID-19 at the Infectious Diseases Hospital (IDH) escaped from the hospital at 2 a.m. yesterday and was found only at 10 a.m. The individual tested positive at the Kandakadu Treatment and Rehabilitation Centre and was receiving treatment at IDH. He was found at the National Hospital of Sri Lanka (NHSL). Army Commander Lt. Gen. Shavendra Silva stated that they were taking immediate steps to quarantine any persons the individual had come into contact with.
Addressing the press, Police Spokesman SSP Jaliya Senaratne stated that there was no threat of community spread through the individual, adding: “An investigation into the route taken by this individual as well as the modes of transport used has been launched by the Intelligence Service and the Police investigation teams using technology and necessary equipment.”
According to him, the driver of the three-wheeler the individual travelled in was being questioned.
Despite there being no apparent threat of community spread, SSP Senaratne said that the public was advised to follow guidelines issued by the health sector, especially by maintaining social distancing, wearing face masks, and practicing good hand hygiene.
Health and Indigenous Medical Services Minister Pavithra Wanniarachchi added that the Government has taken all steps to prevent the spread of COVID-19 in the island. “As part of these efforts, 150,000 PCR tests have been carried out in the country so far, while 8,200 PCR tests have been carried out in relation to the patients identified at the Kandakadu Treatment and Rehabilitation Centre,” she said.
Wanniarachchi added that the Government has taken all necessary steps to prevent community spread from the Kandakadu cluster.
In addition to this, the Epidemiology Unit stated that 17 persons were discharged, having recovered from COVID-19 yesterday. This includes eight persons from the Panagoda Army Hospital, four from the National Institute of Infectious Diseases (NIID), four from the Iranawila Hospital, and one from the Colombo East Base Hospital.
The total number of COVID-19 recoveries in the country has thus risen to 2,094.
The number of active cases in the country is currently 659, of which 367 are at the Kandakadu Treatment Centre, 84 are at the Welikande Base Hospital, 52 are at the NIID, and 46 are at the Kattankudy Base Hospital.
There are also 63 persons being monitored at various hospitals, including 16 at the Kotelawala Defence University (KDU) Hospital, eight at the Chilaw General Hospital, and seven at the NIID.
It was also stated that 13 persons from Doha and 30 persons from Chennai were directed for quarantine after arriving in the island, while 126 returnees from Bahrain who were directed to the Iranamadu Quarantine Centre managed by the Air Force were released yesterday, having completed the quarantine process.
