Thursday Dec 12, 2024
Thursday Dec 12, 2024
Friday, 5 March 2021 02:24 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}
By Shailendree Wickrama Adittiya
The total number of COVID-19 patients detected in the island rose to 84,610, with 384 persons testing positive for COVID-19 yesterday.
The patients detected yesterday include 345 associates of the Peliyagoda COVID-19 cluster and six persons linked to the prisons cluster. The Divulapitiya, Peliyagoda and Prisons clusters have thus increased to 80,395.
The total patient count also includes 2,086 Sri Lankan returnees from abroad, 950 Navy personnel and their contacts, 651 persons linked to the Kandakadu cluster, and 182 foreigners.
According to the district distribution of COVID-19 patients published by the Epidemiology Unit, 28,310 persons from Colombo, 16,764 persons from Gampaha, 6,211 persons from Kalutara, 3,946 persons from Kandy, and 2,399 persons from Kurunegala are among the country’s total COVID-19 patients count.
This includes the 356 persons who tested positive for the virus on Wednesday, of which 104 were from Colombo, 63 were from Gampaha, 35 were from Ratnapura, 26 were from Kandy and 21 were from Kalutara.
The patients detected from Colombo include 16 from Boralesgamuwa and 12 from Kotikawatte.
The Epidemiology Unit adds that 3,285 persons are currently under medical care at various treatment centres. The active patients include 225 persons at the Hambantota District General Hospital, 188 persons at the Warakapola Base Hospital, and 174 persons at the Rambukkana Treatment Centre.
Hospitals are also monitoring 474 persons suspected of having COVID-19.
According to the Epidemiology Unit, 43 persons from the Rambukkana Treatment Centre, 24 persons from the Neville Fernando Teaching Hospital, and 24 persons from the Iththepana District Hospital are among the 399 persons discharged from hospitals yesterday.
The country’s total COVID-19 recoveries currently stand at 80,836.
The Health Promotion Bureau states that 12,883 PCR tests were performed in the island on Wednesday.
Meanwhile, Deputy Director General of Health Services Dr. Hemantha Herath yesterday addressed an incident from Gampaha where two individuals had received the COVID vaccine two days prior to their deaths.
“There are globally-recognised procedures to investigate side effects that occur after vaccination. Having followed these procedures, we can release this information to the public in the coming days,” he said, explaining the incident is currently under investigation.
Until definitive conclusions are arrived at, the incident will be considered a coincidence and the individuals will be considered as persons who happened to be vaccinated two days prior to their death.
Dr. Herath added that persons may experience fever after vaccination but should seek medical care if they experience fever for three days after vaccination as this could be a sign of dengue. In addition to this, Police Spokesperson DIG Ajith Rohana yesterday said: “Among some people is the false belief that this disease has now subsided and that wearing face masks is unnecessary. However, this is not the case. The risk still exists and wearing face masks is a must and the law is still in place.”
