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Thursday, 4 February 2021 02:13 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}
By Shailendree Wickrama Adittiya
A total of 711 persons tested positive for COVID-19 yesterday, with health authorities assuring the public that the spread of COVID-19 was under control in the country.
The 711 persons who tested positive yesterday were associates of the Peliyagoda COVID-19 cluster and this brings the triple clusters that emerged from Divulapitiya, Peliyagoda and Prisons to 62,416.
According to the Epidemiology Unit, a total of 66,409 persons have tested positive for COVID-19 in the island to date. In addition to the triple clusters, the total count includes 1,929 Sri Lankan returnees from abroad, 950 Navy personnel and their contacts, 651 persons linked to the Kandakadu cluster, and 150 foreigners.
The district distribution of the total count records 23,974 persons from Colombo, 13,286 persons from Gampaha, 4,505 persons from Kalutara, 2,640 persons from Kandy, and 1,437 persons from Galle.
This includes the 715 persons who tested positive for COVID-19 on Tuesday, of which 261 persons were from Colombo, 142 persons were from Gampaha, 61 persons were from Badulla, 53 persons were from Kurunegala, and 43 persons were from Kandy.
Of the patients detected from Colombo, 16 were from Colombo 8, 16 were from Ratmalana, and 15 were from Colombo 1.
The Epidemiology Unit adds that 6,194 persons are currently under medical care, of which 355 persons are at the Bingiriya Treatment Centre, 332 persons are at the Giriulla Treatment Centre, and 326 persons are at the Punani Treatment Centre. Hospitals are also monitoring 548 persons suspected of having COVID-19.
According to Deputy Director General of Health Services Dr. Hemantha Herath, 11,399 beds in 79 treatment centres have been set aside for COVID-19 treatment and 7,773 of the beds are currently in use. 26 ICU beds are also in use.
“In the past few days, around 800 patients were detected daily. This is sometimes misconstrued as a loss of control of the situation, but we cannot say this,” Dr. Herath said, explaining that the reason for such high daily COVID-19 patients was movement to various parts of the island amidst an absence of movement restrictions.
“Due to this, clusters and new patients were reported from various parts of the island. There is not a rapid increase in this number because of the control measures implemented by us,” he went on to say, adding that this control can also lead to a belief that the situation is not as bad as it is.
This could also have harmful consequences and Dr. Herath stressed that all safety guidelines must be followed until there are is no COVID-19 spread in the island.
The Deputy Director General of Health Services added: “When studying the spread of the virus in the past few days, we saw that most times when there was large scale spread, it was due to a festival, party, funeral, wedding or similar gathering.”
Due to this, he said persons must participate in such events only when absolutely necessary and even then, follow all safety guidelines and leave the event as soon as possible.
In addition to this, Lady Ridgeway Hospital for Children Director Dr. G. Wijesuriya yesterday said 150 young children and 60 staff attached to the hospital have tested positive for COVID-19 to date. Approximately 200 contacts have been directed for quarantine.
“On 1 February, a child aged one year and four months passed away. Prior to this, a 20-day-old infant passed away in this hospital. Considering the deaths of both these children, what is apparent to us is a delay in seeking medical treatment,” he said, stressing that persons, young or old, should seek medical treatment at the earliest signs of illness.
Meanwhile, the number of COVID-19 recoveries yesterday rose to 59,883. Among those discharged yesterday are 107 persons from the Kopai Treatment Centre, 62 persons from the Punani Treatment Centre, and 61 persons from the Darga Town Treatment Centre.
In terms of testing, the Health Promotion Bureau states that 1,747,494 PCR tests have been performed to date, including 13,218 tests on Tuesday.
The Sri Lanka Army yesterday issued a statement on the meeting held at the National Operations Centre for the Prevention of the COVID-19 Outbreak (NOCPCO) on Tuesday, which focused on the increasing number of COVID-19 patients detected in the island.
According to the statement, Health Services Director General Dr. Asela Gunawardena shared data on discharges and focused on the possibility of reviewing the current procedure followed with regard to discharging patients and mandatory quarantine thereafter.
NOCPCO Head Lt. Gen. Shavendra Silva also called for revisions of the quarantine process, given that 500 to 800 persons are being repatriated on a daily basis and the country has reopened to tourists.
