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Thursday, 19 November 2020 02:30 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}
By Shailendree Wickrama Adittiya
The dual COVID-19 cluster that emerged from Divulapitiya and Peliyagoda yesterday expanded to 14,893, with 327 new cases identified within the day.
According to the Department of Government Information, 325 cases were contacts of the Peliyagoda COVID-19 cluster, while two were overseas arrivals. This brings the total number of confirmed patients identified in the island to 18,402.
The total count also includes 1,491 Sri Lankans who arrived from abroad, 950 Navy personnel and their contacts, 651 persons connected to the Kandakadu cluster and 103 foreigners.
The Epidemiology Unit states that 5,746 persons are currently receiving treatment for COVID-19 at 56 treatment centres in the island. This includes 551 persons at the Punani Treatment Centre, 424 persons at the Bingiriya Treatment Centre, 351 persons at the Neville Fernando Hospital and 315 persons at the Kandakadu Treatment Centre. Hospitals are also monitoring 489 persons suspected of having COVID-19.
The Epidemiology Unit adds that hospitals yesterday discharged 377 persons, including 56 from the Kalutara Police Training School, 46 from the Embilipitiya Treatment Centre and 36 from the Polgolla Treatment Centre. The country’s COVID-19 recoveries have thus increased to 12,587.
Meanwhile, the Health Promotion Bureau stated that 691,948 PCR tests have been carried out in the island to date, including 11,105 tests on Tuesday.
According to Chief Epidemiologist Dr. Sudath Samaraweera, rapid antigen diagnostic test kits were yesterday put into use in the island, as health units received recommendations from Health Services Director General Dr. Asela Gunawardena on the use of the test kits on Tuesday.
“The antigen rapid test is carried out at the location where the sample is collected and there is no need to send it to a laboratory. The results are issued in 30 minutes, so we can quickly identify patients in high risk groups,” Dr. Samaraweera said, adding that the tests can be used to identify patients among contacts of COVID-19 infected persons, as well as those who seek medical care with symptoms similar to COVID-19 symptoms.
The rapid test kits can also be used after an individual dies, with a PCR test only conducted depending on the results of the antigen test.
The Chief Epidemiologist went on to say that the test kits can be used to manage the spread of the virus by quickly identifying patients in high-risk areas, like the Colombo municipal area.
The number of COVID-19 patients identified from the Colombo District exceeded 6,000 yesterday, with the Epidemiology Unit stating that 6,080 patients have been identified in the district to date. This includes 201 of the 401 cases identified on Tuesday. The distribution of Tuesday’s cases shows 37 from Mattakkuliya, 33 from Kotahena and 30 from Grandpass.
The cases identified on Monday also include 82 from the Gampaha District and 32 from the Kalutara District. Health authorities also identified 27 COVID-19 patients from the Sri Lanka Police and 26 from prisons in the island.
Meanwhile, the National Operations Centre for the Prevention of the COVID-19 Outbreak (NOCPCO) yesterday stated that 3,223 persons are currently undergoing quarantine at 33 centres. This includes 289 persons from Dubai, seven persons from India and one person from Qatar who arrived in the island yesterday. According to Police Spokesperson DIG Ajith Rohana, over 70,000 persons are currently undergoing home-quarantine in the country. “At present, 77,500 persons in the island have been directed for home-quarantine by health authorities. These persons belong to 28,500 families,” he said, adding that after these persons are quarantined, health units, especially Public Health Inspectors and Medical Officers of Health and the Police put up notices on the house with all necessary information. Families directed for home-quarantine also receive provisions worth Rs. 10,000 sufficient for the duration of the 14-day quarantine.
