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Monday, 12 October 2020 00:30 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}
By Shailendree Wickrama Adittiya
One hundred and twenty one persons connected to the Divulapitiya cluster tested positive for COVID-19 yesterday, bringing the total cluster count to 1,310.
Yesterday’s cases include 87 employees of the garment manufacturing facility and their contacts, and 34 other contacts. On Saturday, 101 contacts and two employees of the facility tested positive for the virus, in addition to two overseas arrivals.
This brings the total number of confirmed cases identified in the island to 4,752.
According to the Epidemiology Unit, 1,432 persons are currently under medical care, including 212 at the Kamburugamuwa Hospital, 170 at the Hambantota District General Hospital, 160 at the Neville Fernando Teaching Hospital, and 151 at the National Institute of Infectious Diseases (NIID).
Hospitals are also monitoring 272 persons suspected of having COVID-19.
One patient from the NIID was discharged yesterday having recovered from the virus. A total of 3,307 persons have recovered to date.
“As of now, 336,251 PCR tests have been carried out. Within yesterday alone, we carried out 7,796 PCR tests. From 4-10 October, we performed 35,213 PCR tests in the island,” Chief Epidemiologist Dr. Sudath Samaraweera said.
While efforts to identify patients and quarantine contacts continue, National Operation Centre for the Prevention of the COVID-19 Outbreak (NOCPCO) Head and Army Commander Lt. Gen. Shavendra Silva yesterday said Pattithottam and Periyakadai in Mannar have been declared as isolated towns to control the spread of COVID-19.
He added that almost all persons of the garment manufacturing facility in Minuwangoda have been directed to quarantine centres or treatment facilities. “Most families of patients are also undergoing quarantine under the supervision of the Army,” he added.
Silva explained that 10,250 persons are currently undergoing quarantine at 96 centres managed by the Army, Navy, and Air Force. According to a statement issued by the NOCPCO, 90 persons left quarantine centres yesterday, bringing the total number to leave centres to 50,726.
Addressing concerns about the capacity of quarantine centres, Silva said they are already preparing facilities if the need for more persons to undergo quarantine arises.
Regarding police jurisdictions in the Gampaha District where curfew has been imposed, the NOCPCO Head said: “Curfew will continue in those areas, mainly because [Saturday’s] cases were mostly identified from these areas, so there is no way to relax curfew. The Government will only make a decision regarding curfew after studying the situation.”
According to Police Spokesperson DIG Ajith Rohana, 101 persons and 27 vehicles have been taken into police custody over curfew violations. He added that students sitting for the Grade Five Scholarship and Advanced Level examinations in curfew-imposed areas can use their admission forms as curfew passes, and advised students to carry a copy of their admission form with them.
While special centres have been set up in these areas to ensure students are not required to travel to other areas and prevent other people from entering these areas, DIG Ajith Rohana said they had observed that social distancing and face mask regulations were not being adhered to outside examination centres yesterday.
He explained that some parents were allowing students sitting for the Grade Five Scholarship examinations to gather outside centres after the exam, with most students not wearing masks. DIG Ajith Rohana added that they do not expect such behaviour from those sitting for the Advanced Level examination.
“These students and their parents should keep in mind that the exams are being held while there is a threat of a communicable disease in the country. As such, they need to follow safety guidelines completely,” he added.
Safety guidelines included washing hands when entering and exiting the examination centre, wearing face masks, and social distancing.
The Police Spokesperson also addressed claims of 119 persons with COVID-19 going missing, saying there was no truth to such reports. However, he asked all persons connected to the garment manufacturing facility in Minuwangoda and all those who came into contact with employees during the last two weeks to inform relevant authorities.
Concerns have been raised by the public on the reluctance of contacts to come forward due to the exposure given to such persons by the media, which has a negative impact on efforts taken by the authorities to control the spread of COVID-19 in the country.
Addressing video footage of persons being taken to treatment facilities or quarantine centres aired by electronic media, the Department of Government Information (DGI) yesterday said the footage is often damaging to the individuals as they show their places of residence and neighbourhoods and even depict patients and contacts as displaying anti-social behaviour.
The statement issued by the DGI said that such footage does not benefit efforts to inform the public about the current situation in the country and that they may also stop people from coming forward for treatment or quarantine. The DGI also acknowledged that this negative publicity has led to public disgust and objection.
The Department thus asked media institutions to not air any footage that harms the personal and social image of an individual being directed to a treatment or quarantine centre.
Meanwhile, in order to prevent at-risk groups like patients with chronic conditions and the elderly from attending congested hospital clinics, the Health Ministry yesterday said home-delivery of drugs will commence in the Colombo and Gampaha Districts tomorrow. The program will later extend to other parts of the island.
In a statement issued yesterday, the Ministry recommended that these high-risk groups do not attend hospital clinics until further notice in order to reduce their chances of contracting COVID-19. However, all persons experiencing COVID-19 symptoms are advised to visit emergency treatment units of their closest hospital.
