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Saturday Dec 14, 2024
Thursday, 25 June 2020 02:29 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}
By Shailendree Wickrama Adittiya
The total number of COVID-19 cases in Sri Lanka crossed the 2,000 mark last evening, with the identification of 10 new cases, of which seven are overseas arrivals and three are Navy personnel.
According to the situation report issued by the Epidemiology Unit yesterday morning, 938 of the total confirmed cases are Navy personnel and their close contacts, 710 are Sri Lankan returnees from abroad, 313 are other local cases, and 30 are foreigners.
A total of 901 patients have been identified among the Sri Lanka Navy and 665 among overseas arrivals at quarantine centres. All 40 of the cases identified on Tuesday were returnees from other countries. The new cases bring the total number of COVID-19 patients currently under medical care to 428. Of these, 87 are at the Hambantota District General Hospital, 73 are at the Welikanda Base Hospital, 68 are at the Kattankudy Base Hospital, and 59 are at the Teldeniya Base Hospital.
In addition to this, 39 patients are at the National Institute of Infectious Diseases (NIID), 35 at the Homagama Base Hospital, 24 at the Minuwangoda Base Hospital, 22 at the Iranawila Hospital, six at the Colombo East Base Hospital, and four at the Panagoda Army Hospital.
There are also 30 suspect patients at various hospitals, including eight at the Sri Jayewardenepura Hospital.
The Epidemiology Unit added that 14 persons recovered from COVID-19 yesterday, including five from the Hambantota District General Hospital, three from the NIID, and two from the Welikanda Base Hospital, Kattankudy Base Hospital, and Minuwangoda Base Hospital. A total of 1,562 persons have recovered so far and the Sri Lanka Navy yesterday issued a statement explaining that the number of recoveries among Navy personnel reached 790 on Tuesday. All Navy personnel discharged from hospitals will be required to remain in quarantine for an additional 14 days.
The Health and Indigenous Medical Services Ministry stated that over 100,000 PCR tests have been carried out in the island and that the daily testing capacity has been increased by 500 with the opening of a special unit at the Colombo East Base Hospital yesterday.
The laboratory was constructed with Rs. 250 million funding from the Asian Development Bank (ADB) and is equipped with an automated sample extractor.
“Equipped with the latest technology, 500 PCR tests can be conducted daily at this laboratory. Our laboratory only had a daily capacity of 300. However, if required, 1,000 tests can be conducted at this facility,” Health and Indigenous Medical Services Minister Pavithra Wanniarachchi said at the opening of the laboratory.
She added that the way the virus spreads is still under investigation but that the country has been able to eliminate community spread of COVID-19. The last case from the community was reported on 30 April.
In terms of repatriation efforts, the Defence Ministry stated that 154 Sri Lankan expatriates returned from London yesterday. The statement added that a flight carrying 85 Sri Lankans was scheduled to return from Singapore later in the day. All returnees will be subjected to medical screenings before departing for a 14-day quarantine process.
In another statement issued yesterday, the Defence Ministry stated that the Itukama Covid-19 fund exceeded Rs. 1,392 million on Tuesday. “The ‘ITUKAMA’ Covid-19 fund primarily focuses on facilitating means to combat the pandemic including purchasing medication, medical equipment and capacity expansion,” the statement stated, adding that Rs. 200 million has been allocated for PCR tests of which Rs. 6 million has already been released.
