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By Shailendree Wickrama Adittiya
The COVID-19 clusters that emerged from Divulapitiya, Peliyagoda and Prisons crossed the 60,000 patient mark over the weekend with more than 1,500 COVID-19 patients detected over the course of two days.
According to the Department of Government Information, the triple clusters currently stand at 60,174 patients and include 864 persons who tested positive for COVID-19 yesterday, of which 827 associates of the Peliyagoda cluster and 10 persons linked to the Prisons cluster who
The previous day, 848 patients were detected in the island, of which 844 were associates of the Peliyagoda cluster and four were linked to the prisons cluster. The district distribution of Saturday’s patients records 157 from Colombo, 136 from Gampaha, 108 from Kurunegala, 82 from Kalutara, and 82 from Kandy.
The Department of Government Information states that 19 of Colombo’s patients were identified from Gothatuwa, while 14 were from Dehiwala, 13 were from Wellampitiya, and 12 were from Colombo 6.
This brings the total number of COVID-19 patients detected from the Colombo District to 23,360. The district distribution of COVID-19 patients also records 12,820 from Gampaha District, 4,321 from Kalutara, 2,427 from Kandy, and 1,357 from Galle.
This brings the total number of COVID-19 patients detected in the island to 64,157, of which 6,685 persons are currently under medical care. The Epidemiology Unit states that 377 persons at the Bingiriya Treatment Centre, 370 persons at the Giriulla Treatment Centre, and 345 persons at the Neville Fernando Teaching Hospital are among the active patients. Hospitals are also monitoring 767 persons suspected of having COVID-19.
Meanwhile, the COVID-19 recoveries yesterday rose to 57,159, with 97 persons from the Bingiriya Treatment Centre, 69 persons from the Punani Treatment Centre, and 66 persons from the Kopai Treatment Centre among persons discharged yesterday.
With regard to testing, the Health Promotion Bureau states that 1,708,399 PCR tests have been performed to date, including 14,316 tests on Saturday.
Vaccination of police frontline workers yesterday began at the Police Hospital. Public Security Minister Dr. Sarath Weerasekera yesterday said: “Two doctors at the police hospital received the vaccines first, marking the beginning of the process of vaccination. The Police work closely with the public, putting them at risk, so providing the vaccine to the police is a must.”
He added that from approximately 2,000 COVID-19 patients detected among Police personnel, only 180 are currently receiving treatment.
Meanwhile, Police Spokesperson DIG Ajith Rohana yesterday said a special operation will be launched today on persons directed for quarantine, to ensure they remain at home and adhere to quarantine regulations.
“At present, 120,000 persons from 40,000 families in the country are undergoing quarantine at home. However, plainclothesman report that some of them leave the premises. This is an offence under quarantine regulations,” he added.
In addition to this, the National Operations Centre for the Prevention of COVID-19 Outbreak (NOCPCO) yesterday stated that 100 Watta in the Narahenpita Police Division, Lower St. Andrew’s Place, Upper St. Andrew’s Place and Andrew’s Road in the Port Police Division, and 90 Watta in the Gangabada Grama Niladhari Division of the Peliyagoda Police Division will no longer be isolated.