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Wednesday, 10 February 2021 02:58 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}
By Shailendree Wickrama Adittiya
A total 976 COVID-19 patients were detected from the island yesterday, bringing the country’s total COVID-19 patient count to 71,211.
This is the highest number of COVID-19 patients detected in a day, with 892 patients detected on 28 January, 887 patients detected on 8 February, and 887 patients detected on 21 January.
The patients detected yesterday include 971 associates of the Peliyagoda cluster and four persons linked to the prisons cluster, which expands the triple clusters that emerged from Divulapitiya, Peliyagoda and Prisons to 67,200 patients.
In addition to this, 1,946 Sri Lankan returnees from abroad, 950 Navy personnel and their contacts, 651 persons linked to the Kandakadu cluster, and 150 foreigners have also tested positive for COVID-19 to date.
Of the total patient count, 5,788 persons are currently under medical care, including 331 persons at the Giriulla Treatment Centre, 273 persons at the Neville Fernando Teaching Hospital, and 264 persons at the Bingiriya Treatment Centre. A total of 694 persons suspected of having the virus are also under observation at various hospitals.
In addition to this, 65,053 persons have recovered from COVID-19 to date. According to the Epidemiology Unit, 89 persons from the Kahagolla Treatment Centre, 77 persons from the Giriulla Treatment Centre, and 73 persons from the Punani Treatment Centre are among those discharged from hospitals yesterday.
The Epidemiology Unit adds that the district distribution of the country’s total COVID-19 patient count records 25,175 persons from Colombo, 14,112 persons from Gampaha, 4,764 persons from Kalutara, 2,902 persons from Kandy, and 1,619 persons from Galle.
The district distribution of patients includes the 887 persons who tested positive for the virus on Monday, of which 214 were from Colombo, 208 were from Gampaha, 181 were from Badulla, 50 were from Galle, and 47 were from Kalutara.
The patients detected from Colombo District include 37 from Kolonnawa, 31 from Mirihana, and 23 from Wellampitiya.
Given the rise of COVID-19 patients detected from Badulla, where a total of 824 persons have tested positive for the virus to date, Government Medical Officers’ Association (GMOA) Uva Province Coordinator Dr. Palitha Rajapaksha yesterday asked that measures are taken to control the situation in Badulla.
“In a garment manufacturing facility with a staff of 2,300, 644 persons have tested positive. In another garment manufacturing facility, of 338 persons, 115 have tested positive,” he said, adding that testing carried out on family members of the employees revealed that three families have tested positive for COVID-19.
“There is a risk of community spread of COVID-19 in the Badulla District,” Dr. Rajapaksha warned.
In addition to this, Primary Health Care, Epidemics and COVID Disease Control State Minister Dr. Sudarshini Fernandopulle yesterday said in Parliament that there was no distortion of COVID-19 information issued, explaining that a low number of active patients was currently seen due to patients being detected at a similar rate to patients being discharged.
In response to a question about water from a COVID-19 treatment facility in Anuradhapura contaminating nearby rivers, Dr. Fernandopulle said: “COVID-19 does not spread through water and is only transmitted from droplets through respiration. However, if the water of the hospital flows into nearby water systems, it is an issue as other germs can spread, so we will look into this matter.”
However, an explanation has not been provided for why water level contamination is used as reasoning behind the decision to not permit the burial of COVID-19 remains if the virus does not spread from water.
Meanwhile, the National Operations Centre for the Prevention of the COVID-19 Outbreak (NOCPCO) yesterday announced that several Grama Niladhari Divisions in the Batticaloa District as well as Isman Mawatha and the Warakumara area in the Meedeniya Grama Niladhari Division of the Matale District have been released from isolation.
Police Spokesperson DIG Ajith Rohana yesterday said that the special operation to ensure Public and private institutions are adhering to quarantine regulations was carried out in the Western Province on Monday as well. While 447 establishments were inspected, 38 were found to not be complying with safety regulations. Since 10 January, when the program was launched, a total of 12,012 institutions have been inspected, of which 1,389 were not complying with quarantine regulations. Legal action has been taken against 1,300 of these institutions.
DIG Ajith Rohana added that the Sri Lanka Police will be vigilant about any Valentine’s Day events being held, explaining that all persons involved in parties or celebrations held without approval from health authorities will be arrested.
In terms of testing, the Health Promotion Bureau stated that 1,831,420 PCR tests have been carried out to date, including 14,402 tests on Monday.
