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Monday, 15 March 2021 03:36 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}
By Shailendree Wickrama Adittiya
The country’s total COVID-19 patient count rose to 87,907 over the weekend with the detection of 621 patients on Saturday and yesterday.
A total of 307 persons tested positive for COVID-19 yesterday and the patients include 275 associates of the Peliyagoda cluster and seven persons linked to the prisons cluster.
On Saturday, 314 persons tested positive for COVID-19, including 278 associates of the Peliyagoda cluster, 33 overseas arrivals, and three persons linked to the prisons cluster.
The Divulapitiya, Peliyagoda and Prisons clusters expanded to 83,498 patients over the weekend. In addition to the triple clusters, 2,279 Sri Lankan returnees from abroad, 950 Navy personnel and their contacts, 651 persons linked to the Kandakadu cluster, and 192 foreigners are also among the country’s total patient count.
According to the Epidemiology Unit, the district distribution of COVID-19 patients includes 28,809 persons from Colombo, 17,321 persons from Gampaha, 6,430 persons from Kalutara, 4,100 persons from Kandy, and 2,590 persons from Ratnapura.
At present, 2,732 persons are under medical care, of which 162 persons are at the Warakapola Base Hospital, 149 persons are at the Kopai Treatment Centre, and 140 persons are at the Punani Treatment Centre. Hospitals are also monitoring 305 persons suspected of having COVID-19.
The country’s COVID-19 recoveries rose to 84,648, with 395 persons leaving hospitals yesterday. The recoveries include 43 persons from the Bingiriya Treatment Centre, 29 persons from the Kopai Treatment Centre, and 26 persons from the Anuradhapura Teaching Hospital.
According to the Health Promotion Bureau, 11,539 PCR tests were performed on Saturday.
The South African variant of COVID-19 was recently detected in a sample collected from a quarantine centre in the island. Addressing this, Public Health Inspectors (PHI) Union President Upul Rohana said this emphasised that the risk of the South African variant entering the country is ever present.
“Findings from studies carried out on the effect of COVID-19 vaccines against this variant are yet to be published anywhere in the world. We must thus emphasise that vaccination is not the only solution and that we must strictly adhere to safety guidelines and quarantine regulations and focus more on COVID-19 control measures,” he said.
According to National Operations Centre for the Prevention of COVID-19 Outbreak (NOCPCO) Head Gen. Shavendra Silva, revisions to the country’s quarantine regulations are expected today.
The revisions will consider if persons who have completed the COVID-19 vaccination round can be exempt from quarantine when travelling to the country.
A request has also been made to the Health Ministry regarding the quarantine period of persons who travel abroad for a short period of time for diplomatic, official or business visits and remain in a bio-bubble, he said.
“If an individual leaves the country for less than 96 hours and remains in a bio-bubble, they will be required to quarantine at home for seven days and will be subjected to a PCR test on the fifth day, after which they could be released,” Silva said.
He added: “Approval was given a day ago for a mechanism where persons who leave the country for more than four days will be subjected to a PCR test immediately after they return and a second PCR test five to seven days later, after which they may be released.”
A request has also been made to shorten the quarantine period to be spent by overseas arrivals at a centre or hotel.
Silva also commented on COVID-19 burials, saying 40 burials had taken place by Friday and that five took place on Saturday. All remains of persons who died of COVID-19 and have been requested to be buried will be buried by today.
