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Wednesday, 25 November 2020 00:30 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}
The dual COVID-19 cluster that emerged from Divulapitiya and Peliyagoda exceeded 17,000 cases yesterday with the detection of 459 new COVID-19 cases.
The Department of Government Information states that 458 persons are associates of the Peliyagoda COVID-19 cluster and one overseas arrival from Qatar , and that the total number of patients identified from the dual cluster currently stands at 17,436.
According to the Epidemiology Unit, a total of 20,795 COVID-19 cases have been identified in the island to date. In addition to the dual cluster, the total count also includes 1,505 Sri Lankan returnees from abroad, 950 Navy personnel and their contacts, 651 persons connected to the Kandakadu cluster, and 112 foreigners.
Of the total count, 5,911 persons are currently receiving medical care at 56 treatment centres in the island. The Epidemiology Unit states that 719 persons are at the Punani Treatment Centre, 349 persons are at the Bingiriya Treatment Centre, 314 persons are at the Kandakadu Treatment Centre, and 310 persons are at the Neville Fernando Hospital. Hospitals are also monitoring 601 persons suspected of having COVID-19.
The Epidemiology Unit adds that 465 persons were discharged yesterday, including 78 persons from the Bingiriya Treatment Centre, 76 persons from the Penideniya Treatment Centre, 48 persons from the Kalutara Police Training School, and 45 persons from the Neville Fernando Hospital.
This brings the total number of COVID-19 recoveries in the island to 14,962.
In terms of PCR testing, the Health Promotion Bureau states that 7,467 tests were carried out on Monday, bringing the total number of PCR tests carried out in the country to 755,105.
Meanwhile, the National Operations Centre for the Prevention of the COVID-19 Outbreak (NOCPCO) yesterday said 4,490 persons are currently undergoing quarantine at 45 centres managed by the Sri Lanka Army, Sri Lanka Navy, and Sri Lanka Air Force. This includes overseas arrivals, like the 138 persons from Qatar and 50 persons from Abu Dhabi who arrived yesterday.
According to NOCPCO Head Lt. Gen. Shavendra Silva, arrangements have been made for Sri Lankans residing abroad to return to the country throughout the coming week. “Priority has been given to the Middle East as Sri Lankans living in the Middle East are facing extreme difficulties,” he said.
Regarding the current situation in the country, Silva explained that despite school attendance being low at present, as schools in most areas in the island reopened only on Monday, authorities expected attendance to improve in the coming days.
He added that a majority of the cases identified on Monday were from the Colombo District, mainly from isolated areas. According to the Sri Lanka Army, of the 337 cases identified on Monday, 189 were detected within the Colombo District. This includes 68 cases from Colombo 12, 25 cases from Colombo 14, 22 cases from Colombo 13, and 19 cases from Colombo-15.
47 cases were identified from Gampaha on Monday, of which, 22 were from Veyangoda. The remaining cases identified on Monday include 11 from Puttalam, 10 from Nuwara Eliya, and eight from Kandy.
In addition to this, 20 officers attached to the Sri Lanka Police and 13 officers attached to the Special Task Force were also identified as COVID-19 infected persons on Monday.
According to the Epidemiology Unit’s district distribution of total cases, 7,434 cases have been identified from the Colombo District, 5,446 cases from the Gampaha District, 781 cases from the Kalutara District, 303 cases from the Kandy District, and 295 cases from the Kurunegala District.
Regarding cases emerging from central parts of the island, Lt. Gen. Silva explained that they were linked to persons from the Western Province. He added that the decision to relax lockdown in several areas in the Western Province was based on evaluations of COVID-19 cases detected in the island, but said: “We can in no way say a patient will not be identified from an area that has not been isolated. It can happen and, if it does, we immediately investigate their movements.”
He added that an area will only be isolated if exposed persons cannot be quarantined in a way that ensures there is no threat to the public.
Meanwhile, State Pharmaceutical Corporation (SPC) Chairman Dr. Prasanna Gunasena yesterday spoke about the spread of COVID-19 in the country, saying: “In certain areas under lockdown or where curfew is imposed, private pharmacies do not operate. Due to this, we have learned that several persons with chronic illness face difficulties as they are unable to purchase medications.”
Providing a solution to this, medications for persons with chronic conditions can now be purchased via Rajya Osu Sala, which is open 24 hours a day.
Dr. Gunasena explained that the Rajya Osu Sala yesterday launched a delivery service for medications specifically in the Colombo and Gampaha districts, with similar services offered throughout the island. Persons can submit their prescription to the Rajya Osu Sala via WhatsApp or Viber and have their medication delivered to their doorstep. The relevant numbers are published on the SPC website and can be easily accessed.
The SPC Chairman added that persons with suspicions of having been exposed to COVID-19 should get tested immediately as the virus can drop the body’s oxygen percentage. This could result in the death of persons who are unaware of having contracted COVID-19 but feel healthy.
Early detection of patients could reduce the number of deaths taking place at home, he added
