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Friday, 31 July 2020 00:35 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}
Four persons, including three overseas returnees, tested positive for COVID-19 yesterday, bringing the total number of confirmed cases in the country to 2,814.
With the exception of yesterday’s cases, the total count of patients includes 950 Navy personal and their close contacts and 917 Sri Lankan returnees from abroad. The number of persons identified from the Kandakadu Treatment and Rehabilitation Centre and their close contacts has increased to 600.
Health Services Director General Dr. Anil Jasinghe yesterday revealed that an individual who was a contact of a patient identified from the Kandakadu Treatment and Rehabilitation Centre had tested positive for COVID-19 on Wednesday. According to Dr. Jasinghe, the individual has associated with a family member of the two infected families in Lankapura.
The individual is an employee of the Lankapura Divisional Secretariat and staff of the Divisional Secretariat. A nearby Divisional Council as well as the individual’s close associates are being subjected to PCR tests. Over 325 samples have been collected so far and Dr. Jasinghe explained that those required to undergo quarantine will be directed to self-quarantine.
“No travel restrictions have been imposed on Lankapura at this point but health authorities and defence and intelligence services are working on contact tracing. By (today), we can evaluate the situation based on the results of the PCR tests conducted,” Dr. Jasinghe said.
He added that, as previously stated, there was a chance of persons connected to the Kandakadu cluster testing positive for COVID-19 over time but that the authorities were taking all measures to prevent community spread through these persons. A total of 156,943 PCR tests have been carried out in the country so far, including 1,403 on Wednesday.
The Epidemiology Unit states that 470 persons are currently under medical care, including 285 at the Kandakadu Treatment Centre, 47 at the Welikande Base Hospital, 43 at the National Institute of Infectious Diseases (NIID), and 42 at the Minuwangoda Base Hospital.
There are also 21 patients at the Kattankudy Base Hospital, 14 at the Panagoda Army Hospital, 10 at the Iranawila Hospital, and five at the Colombo East Base Hospital.
In addition to this, 16 persons were discharged from various hospitals, having recovered from COVID-19 yesterday. This includes 10 persons from the Welikande Base Hospital, four from the Kattankudy Base Hospital, and two from the Panagoda Army Hospital. The total number of recoveries in the country is 2,333 and the Health Promotion Bureau states that the country’s recovery rate is 82.91%.
There are also 86 persons being monitored at various hospitals over COVID-19 suspicions, including 28 at the Sri Jayewardenepura Hospital.
In addition to this, 21 persons completed the quarantine process and left the centres in Boossa and Kalpitiya on Wednesday and yesterday. According to a statement issued by the Navy, 15 individuals left the centre in Boossa, while six persons left the centre in Kalpitiya.
“Meanwhile, 61 more individuals are still undergoing quarantine at Boossa Naval Quarantine Centre. In a similar vein, another 18 persons are under the care of the Kalpitiya Naval Quarantine Centre as of now,” the statement added.
In a statement issued yesterday, the President’s Media Division (PMD) stated that the Itukama COVID-19 Healthcare and Social Security Fund had surpassed a balance of Rs. 1,549 million.
