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Tuesday, 10 November 2020 01:48 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}
By Shailendree Wickrama Adittiya
Over 14,000 COVID-19 cases have been identified in Sri Lanka to date, with 356 persons testing positive for the virus yesterday.
The total number of confirmed cases in the island rose to 14,285, of which 10,803 are from the Divulapitiya and Peliyagoda dual cluster. All of yesterday's cases were associates of the Peliyagoda COVID-19 cluster.
The total count also includes 1,467 Sri Lankan returnees from abroad, 950 Navy personnel and their contacts, 651 persons connected to the Kandakadu cluster, and 102 foreigners.
Over 100 prison inmates have also tested positive to date, including 72 from the Welikada Prison on Sunday. According to the Sri Lanka Army, the 510 cases identified on Sunday also include one police officer. In terms of district distribution, 213 cases were from the Colombo District, 183 were from the Gampaha District, and 12 were from the Kurunegala District.
This has brought the number of active cases in the island to 5,370, of which 451 persons are at the Neville Fernando Teaching Hospital, 378 persons are at the Bingiriya Treatment Centre, 251 persons are at the Kahawatte Treatment Centre, 249 persons are at the Punani Treatment Centre, and 203 persons are at the Kamburugamuwa Hospital.
There are currently 52 dedicated treatment facilities for COVID-19 infected persons in the island.
Hospitals are also monitoring 419 persons suspected of having COVID-19, while 36 persons have died of COVID-19 to date.
Hospitals also discharged 595 persons yesterday, bringing the total number of COVID-19 recoveries to 8,880. Of the 595 recoveries, 239 were from the Kandakadu Treatment Centre, 94 were from the Punani Treatment Centre, and 75 were from the Rambukkana Treatment Centre.
According to the Health Promotion Bureau, 598,421 PCR tests have been carried out to date, including 7,986 on Sunday.
Regarding the rapid antigen test kits brought down to the country recently, Government Medical Officers’ Association (GMOA) Editor Dr. Haritha Aluthge said the tests were important in managing the current spread of the virus in Sri Lanka, but emphasised that it would not replace PCR testing.
He also requested the Government to consider COVID-19 antibody testing.
“As per the latest notice from the World Health Organization, Sri Lanka is now at the third transmission level. The guidelines given by WHO previously had four levels, but it now has seven,” Dr. Aluthge said, adding that it was the Epidemiology Unit’s responsibility right now to present a clear analysis on the country’s situation and give recommendations to authorities on how to react to the situation.
Meanwhile, the National Operations Centre for the Prevention of COVID-19 Outbreak (NOCPCO) yesterday said 63,921 persons have left quarantine centres to date, while 2,409 persons are currently undergoing quarantine at 27 centres.
In a statement issued yesterday, the NOCPCO said Angulana North and Angulana South Grama Niladhari Divisions in the Angulana Police Jurisdiction, and the Kandana and Mahabage Police Jurisdictions, will be under lockdown until further notice.
They also stated that lockdown imposed on the Kurunegala municipal area and the Kuliyapitiya Police Jurisdiction has been partially relaxed. Therefore, only the Ilippugedara and Kadaveediya Grama Niladhari Divisions in the Kurunegala municipal area and the Galagedara, Hammalawa, and Ihala Kalugomuwa Grama Niladhari Divisions in Kiliyapitiya will be under lockdown henceforth.
Commenting on isolated areas, Police Spokesperson DIG Ajith Rohana explained lockdown is imposed in areas where there is a high risk of infection and that mechanisms for essential services in these areas to operate will be implemented in the coming days.
He went on to say that it was the responsibility of employers to refrain from calling into work persons residing in isolated areas, adding that employers must also follow safety guidelines issued by the Health Ministry on hand hygiene, face masks, temperature checks, social distancing, and the maintenance of logs.
The Police Spokesperson said that 120 persons were arrested in the last 10 days for failing to adhere to safety guidelines, adding: “Regulations on maintaining social distancing and wearing face masks are applicable in all parts of the island, whether it is Point Pedro, Dondra, Potuvil or Colombo. Everyone must adhere to these guidelines when leaving the house.”
