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Friday, 20 August 2021 03:37 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}
By Shailendree Wickrama Adittiya
Sri Lanka’s COVID-19 detections yesterday exceeded 370,000 with the detection of 3,806 COVID-19 patients.
This is the highest number of COVID-19 patients detected in a day in Sri Lanka.
The patients detected yesterday include 3,793 persons from the New Year cluster, which has a total patient count of 266,572. The Prisons cluster has a patient count of 7,986.
The Epidemiology Unit states that 82,785 patients have been linked to the Peliyagoda cluster and 3,059 patients have been linked to the Divulapitiya cluster.
In terms of imported cases, 6,715 Sri Lankan overseas arrivals and 328 foreigners have tested positive for COVID-19 to date.
13 overseas arrivals were among the COVID-19 patients detected yesterday.
This includes the 3,676 COVID-19 patients detected on Wednesday, of which 3,654 were from the New Year cluster, 16 were Sri Lankan overseas arrivals, and six were from the Prisons cluster.
The Health Promotion Bureau states that 22,290 PCR tests were carried out yesterday. The day before, 19,021 PCR tests and 6,526 rapid antigen tests were carried out.
A total of 373,165 persons have tested positive for COVID-19 to date. This includes 85,309 persons from Colombo, 67,706 persons from Gampaha, 39,518 persons from Kalutara, 18,772 persons from Galle, and 17,933 persons from Kurunegala.
Third wave detections from Western Province consist of 53,012 patients from Colombo, 49,172 patients from Gampaha, and 32,460 patients from Kalutara.
At present, 47,847 persons are under medical or home care, with hospitals observing 3,946 persons suspected of having COVID-19.
According to the Epidemiology Unit, 2,186 persons were discharged from hospitals yesterday, raising the country’s COVID-19 recoveries to 318,714.
Meanwhile, several parties have urged President Gotabaya Rajapaksa to impose a countrywide lockdown given Sri Lanka’s COVID-19 situation.
Members of 10 different political parties, in a letter dated 18 August, recommended seven measures to be taken, including a countrywide lockdown for three weeks and prioritising persons over the age of 60 and those with illnesses when administering vaccines.
The letter was signed by Athuraliye Rathana Thero, Vasudeva Nanayakkara, Prof. Tissa Vitarana, Wimal Weerawansa, Udaya Gammanpila, A.L.M. Athaullah, Tiran Alles, Dr. G. Weerasinghe, Asanka Navarathna, and Gevindu Kumaratunga.
They drew attention to COVID-19 data discrepancies and asked that action be taken against all responsible parties, adding that people’s committees should be established to ensure COVID-19 health guidelines are adhered to.
The recommendations also include directing unutilised healthcare resources to the vaccination program, establishing an interconnected medical mission bringing together Ayurveda, traditional and western medicine for COVID-19 treatment, and appointing an independent committee consisting of health and economic sector experts to determine how the country can best face the challenges brought on by the pandemic.
In addition to this, the Malwathu-Asgiri Chief Prelates, in a letter dated 18 August, urged the President to implement countrywide lockdown for at least a week.
Despite no official announcement on a lockdown, panic buying was seen in several areas as many suspected a lockdown could be expected over the weekend. However, voluntary lockdowns can be seen in several areas with businesses and shops shutting down given the worsening COVID-19 situation in the country.
