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Sunday Dec 15, 2024
Thursday, 1 October 2020 00:05 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}
By Shailendree Wickrama Adittiya
Six persons tested positive for COVID-19 yesterday, bringing the total number of confirmed cases identified in the island to 3,380.
Of the total cases, 1,390 are Sri Lankan returnees from abroad and 70 are foreigners. The imported cases include the 11 cases identified on Tuesday. According to the Epidemiology Unit, the local cases include 950 Navy personnel and their close contacts and 651 persons connected to the Kandakadu Treatment and Rehabilitation Centre.
The number of active cases is currently 137 and includes 22 foreigners. Of those receiving treatment, 53 are at the Welikanda Base Hospital, 37 are at the National Institute of Infectious Diseases (NIID), and 21 are at the Hambantota District General Hospital.
Hospitals are also monitoring 38 persons suspected of having COVID-19.
The Epidemiology Unit adds that the number of COVID-19 recoveries remains at 3,230 with zero patients being discharged yesterday.
Meanwhile, the National Operations Centre for the Prevention of the COVID-19 Outbreak (NOCPCO) stated that 342 persons arrived in the island yesterday. This includes 287 persons from Australia, 47 from Dubai, five from India, and three from Qatar. All overseas arrivals have been directed to quarantine centres.
At present, 7,132 persons are undergoing quarantine at 74 centres and a total of 46,673 persons have left quarantine centres to date. This includes 343 persons who left centres yesterday.
Addressing the press yesterday, Chief Epidemiologist Dr. Sudath Samaraweera stated that the control of the spread of COVID-19 in the country was due to Government regulations and guidelines and community adherence to these measures. He added that the country took a proactive approach in this regard, especially with appointing a task force for the control of COVID-19 before Sri Lanka had detected its first patient.
Dr. Samaraweera said the Intelligence Unit played a significant role in contact tracing and that the health sector carried out community testing on groups at higher risk of contracting the virus. Despite these measures, he said, there was still a threat of community spread in the country, making it vital that the public continues to follow safety guidelines.
He went on to explain that it was also important to focus on other diseases as well during this time, whether they are communicable or non-communicable diseases.
“To date, 6,096 leptospirosis patients have been identified in the country and 70 deaths have occurred. A large number of patients are reported from the Ratnapura District. Of the 6,096 cases, 1,341 are from the Ratnapura District. Kegalle, Anuradhapura, Polonnaruwa, Kalutara and such districts show a prevalence of leptospirosis,” Dr. Samaraweera went on to say.
He warned that persons who come into contact with water should take precautions and seek medical help before the condition becomes critical.
While adding that there were fewer cases and deaths of influenza in the island this year, Dr. Samaraweera stated 27,733 dengue cases and 33 deaths have been recorded so far this year.
