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Wednesday, 5 May 2021 01:27 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}
By Shailendree Wickrama Adittiya
The detection of 1,914 COVID-19 positive persons yesterday pushed the country’s total COVID-19 patient count to 115,590.
Among the persons who tested positive for the virus yesterday are 1,860 persons from the New Year cluster. A total of 18,993 COVID-19 patients have been linked to the cluster to date.
The Divulapitiya, Peliyagoda, Prisons and New Year clusters have expanded to 109,687 patients. This includes 82,785 patients linked to the Peliyagoda Fish Market, 4,850 patients linked to the Prisons cluster, and 3,059 patients linked to the Minuwangoda cluster. The country’s imported cases include 3,636 Sri Lankan arrivals from abroad and 299 foreigners.
According to the Epidemiology Unit, 34,235 persons from Colombo, 21,223 persons from Gampaha, 8,487 persons from Kalutara, 4,940 persons from Kurunegala, and 4,842 persons from Kandy have tested positive for COVID-19 to date.
The district distribution of patients includes the 1,923 patients detected on Monday, of which 529 were from Colombo, 264 were from Kalutara, 232 were from Gampaha, 154 were from Galle, and 122 were from Kurunegala.
At present, 15,728 persons are under medical care, including 853 persons at the Punani Treatment Centre, 479 persons at the Bingiriya Treatment Centre, and 338 persons at the Giriulla Treatment Centre. Hospitals also have under observation 1,118 persons suspected of having COVID-19.
Voicing concerns over treatment capacities being reached with the increasing number of detections, the Sri Lanka Medical Association (SLMA) yesterday requested the Government to impose strict movement restrictions and only permit essential services to operate.
“When we detect 1,800 patients a day, there are two to three times more patients in society. The bed capacities for these patients are also quickly reducing and ICU capacities are being reached. According to physicians, when one member of a family is infected, the rest of the family also gets infected due to the high transmissibility of this variant,” SLMA President Dr. Padma Sriyani Gunaratne said.
Chief Epidemiologist Dr. Sudath Samaraweera also addressed the growing number of daily detections as well as any delays in transporting patients to a treatment centre.
“When close to 2,000 patients are detected in a single day, a certain length of time is needed to find the patient’s location, pick them up and provide transport to treatment centres,” Chief Epidemiologist Dr. Sudath Samaraweera said.
“During this time, patients remain at home,” he added, stressing that it was thus extremely important for persons to isolate themselves from other residents of the house as soon as they are informed of being COVID-19 positive.
He also cautioned the fishing community of interacting with fishermen from other countries, as there is a risk of contracting COVID-19 from them. Dr. Samaraweera said this especially applied to fishermen from India, as interactions could allow the Indian variant of the virus to spread in Sri Lanka.
According to the Epidemiology Unit, 944 persons were discharged from hospitals yesterday having recovered from the virus. This includes 112 persons from the Dambadeniya Treatment Centre, 87 persons from the Kopai Treatment Centre, and 79 persons from the Giriulla Treatment Centre. The country’s COVID-19 recoveries have risen to 99,153.
In terms of testing, the Health Promotion Bureau states that 18,584 PCR tests were performed on Monday.
The Cabinet of Ministers yesterday approved a proposal to expedite the purchase of testing kits and other equipment to carry out PCR tests as required.
“Taking into consideration the COVID-19 situation in the country, the cabinet paper submitted by Health Minister Pavithra Wanniarachchi for provisions to increase the PCR testing capacity during the third wave has received Cabinet approval,” Co-Cabinet Spokesperson Ramesh Pathirana said.
He added, “At present, 20,000 PCR tests are performed a day but we have realised this is insufficient given to the severity of the third wave.”
Meanwhile, the National Operations Centre for the Prevention of the COVID-19 Outbreak (NOCPCO) yesterday stated that several Grama Niladhari (GN) Divisions in the Colombo, Kalutara, Gampaha, Ratnapura, and Nuwara Eliya Districts have been placed under isolation.
In the Western Province, the Willorawatte GN Division in the Moratumulla Police Area, Bombuwela GN Division in the Dodangoda Police Area, and the Eldeniya Church Road and Ranaviru Dharmasiri Mawatha in the Kadawata Police Area were placed under isolation at 7 a.m. yesterday.
The Hapugoda GN Division in the Kalawana Police Area, Pothupitiya GN Division in the Rakwana Police Area, and Gangulvitiya GN Division in the Ratnapura Police Area as well as the Ingestre GN Division in the Norwood Police Area and the Fordayas Watta GN Division in the Hatton Police Area have also been isolated.
