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Tuesday Apr 23, 2024
Tuesday, 22 June 2021 01:10 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}
By Shailendree Wickrama Adittiya
A total of 2,131 persons tested positive for COVID-19 yesterday and health authorities state that measures have been taken to prevent the spread of the Delta variant in the country.
According to Colombo Municipal Council Chief Medical Officer of Health Dr. Ruwan Wijayamuni, five persons with the Delta variant have been detected from Aramaya Place, Dematagoda so far. Ten persons with the Alpha variant have also been detected.
In addition to this, 278 persons from the neighbouring Sirimuthu Uyana were tested and 15 samples came back positive for the Alpha variant.
“We plan on carrying out an exit PCR or a rapid antigen test on the residents of Aramaya Place, Dematagoda in 11 days’ time and may be able to reopen the area if the positive rate is below 5%,” Dr. Wijayamuni said.
It was also reported that an individual from Pragathipura, Madiwela was suspected to have the Delta variant. Thirty-four persons have already been tested, but the Epidemiology Unit has not been officially informed if the individual has the Delta variant.
“Despite not receiving confirmed information, we have already alerted the areas on the difference of the PCR test and all necessary measures will be taken,” Deputy Director General of Health Services Dr. Hemantha Herath said.
The Health Promotion Bureau states that 18,682 PCR tests were carried out yesterday.
Meanwhile, the Public Health Inspectors’ Union (PHIU) yesterday raised concerns about the use of rapid antigen tests instead of PCR tests when releasing first contacts from quarantine.
“As per a circular dated 6 June issued by the Director General of Health Services on releasing persons from quarantine, we subject first contacts to a rapid antigen test at the end of 14 days in order to release them from quarantine. Previously, we carried out a PCR test at the end of ten days to detect patients,” PHIU President Upul Rohana said.
Pointing to the fact that rapid antigen tests were not as effective as PCR tests, he said that a drop in patient detections would be visible in the coming days. “We must understand that this drop is not due to a drop in actual patients, but due to an issue with the mechanism we use,” Upul Rohana added.
Meanwhile, the Sri Jayewardenepura University yesterday stated that rapid, low cost SARS-CoV-2 nanopore sequencing technology had been established in Sri Lanka for the first time at the university premises.
This would allow the genomic sequencing facility of the Allergy Immunology and Cell Biology Unit at the University’s Department of Immunology and Molecular Medicine to ramp up sequencing capacity at a reduced cost.
“Compared to other sequencing technologies available, nanopore sequencing provides rich data, is fast, accessible, easy to use, and enables analysis of ultra-long DNA or RNA reads in real time. Importantly, the cost of analysing a sample is significantly cheaper,” a statement issued by Sri Jayewardenepura University read.
This is crucial given the country’s COVID-19 situation and the detection of the Delta variant in community samples.
In terms of the COVID-19 patients detected yesterday, health authorities state that 2,098 persons from the New Year cluster tested positive for COVID-19 yesterday. The cumulative patient count of the Divulapitiya, Peliyagoda, Prisons and New Year clusters has risen to 234,676.
This includes 139,886 persons from the New Year cluster, 82,785 persons from the Peliyagoda cluster, 6,848 persons from the Prisons cluster, and 3,059 persons from the Divulapitiya cluster.
The country’s imported cases include 4,869 Sri Lankan returnees from abroad and 328 foreigners.
This takes into account the 1,990 persons from the New Year cluster, 20 Sri Lankan returnees from abroad, and 18 persons from the Prisons cluster who tested positive for COVID-19 on Sunday.
Of the 2,028 patients detected on Sunday, 307 were from Gampaha, 302 were from Colombo, and 253 were from Kalutara.
Since the outbreak of COVID-19 in the country, 58,741 persons from Colombo, 41,720 persons from Gampaha, 26,483 persons from Kalutara, 12,710 persons from Kurunegala, and 12,646 persons from Kandy have tested positive for the virus.
During the third wave alone, 26,444 patients from Colombo, 23,186 patients from Gampaha, and 19,425 patients from Kalutara have been detected.
At present, 31,952 persons are under medical care and 1,368 persons suspected of having COVID-19 are under observation.
Hospitals yesterday discharged 1,898 persons, bringing the country’s COVID-19 recoveries to 207,287.
