Sunday May 05, 2024
Sunday May 05, 2024
Monday, 24 May 2021 00:19 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}
By Shailendree Wickrama Adittiya
Over 5,000 COVID-19 patients were detected over the weekend with 2,959 persons testing positive for COVID-19 yesterday and 2,909 persons testing positive for COVID-19 the previous day.
The patients detected yesterday include 2,945 persons from the New Year Cluster.
After three consecutive days with over 3,000 COVID-19 detections a day, Saturday saw a slight dip in detections with 2,871 persons from the New Year cluster, 35 persons from the Prisons cluster, and three Sri Lankan returnees from abroad testing positive for virus.
However, PCR testing, which has remained above 25,000 since 16 May, dropped to 22,824 on Saturday.
Of the COVID-19 patients detected on Saturday, 556 were from Colombo, 407 were from Kalutara, 354 were from Gampaha, 233 were from Galle, and 207 were from Kurunegala.
The overall district distribution of COVID-19 patients shows 44,713 persons from Colombo, 30,030 persons from Gampaha, 13,698 persons from Kalutara, 8,189 persons from Kurunegala, and 6,515 persons from Kandy.
A total of 164,201 persons have tested positive for COVID-19 to date. This includes 82,785 persons from the Peliyagoda cluster, 63,508 persons from the New Year cluster, 5,498 persons from the Prisons cluster, and 3,059 persons from the Divulapitiya cluster. The four clusters have a cumulative patient count of 157,795.
The country’s imported COVID-19 cases include 4,160 Sri Lankan returnees from abroad and 318 foreigners.
At present, 34,416 persons are under medical care, including 960 persons at the Weligama Treatment Centre, 544 persons at the Bingiriya Treatment Centre, and 499 persons at the Neville Fernando Teaching Hospital. Hospitals are currently observing 1,515 persons suspected of having COVID-19.
The Epidemiology Unit states that 1,612 persons were discharged from hospitals yesterday, including 129 persons from the Punani Treatment Centre, 115 persons from the Dambadeniya Treatment Centre, and 98 persons from the Bingiriya Treatment Centre.
The country’s COVID-19 recoveries have risen to 128,607.
To meet the increasing demand for treatment facilities, the Health Ministry decided that 50 Ayurvedic hospitals will be converted into COVID-19 intermediate care centres, adding 3,500 beds to the current COVID-19 treatment capacity.
According to a statement issued by the Health Ministry, the decision was made during a discussion held yesterday, along with a decision to give health staff at Ayurvedic hospitals formal training in COVID-19 treatment and to vaccinate all health staff.
Funds for the physical resources required for a COVID-19 treatment centre will be provided through the Health Ministry and the Finance Ministry.
Meanwhile, the Primary Health Care, Epidemics and COVID Disease Control State Ministry yesterday issued a statement warning people of fake requests for medical equipment, saying the Ministry has observed instances where State Minister Dr. Sudarshini Fernandopulle’s name is misused in order raise funds in the pretence they are for COVID-19 treatment centres.
The State Ministry stressed that it is important to inquire from treatment centres on the exact requirements and that Dr. Fernandopulle’s name need not be used in efforts to collect funds for these donations.
However, the State Ministry did acknowledge all efforts made by individuals and organisations to provide medical equipment upon a request made by Dr. Fernandopulle.
