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Monday Dec 02, 2024
Thursday, 3 September 2020 01:23 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}
By Shailendree Wickrama Adittiya
Six overseas arrivals tested positive for COVID-19 yesterday, bringing the total number of confirmed cases in the island to 3,098.
The relatively low number of new cases is followed by 80 cases identified on Monday and Tuesday. According to the Sri Lanka Army, 43 persons tested positive for COVID-19 on Tuesday and all individuals were identified from quarantine centres.
The Epidemiology Unit states that 59 overseas arrivals, including three foreigners, tested positive for COVID-19 during the 24-hour period ending at 10 a.m. on 1 September and 21 overseas arrivals, including one foreigner, tested positive for COVID-19 during the 24-hour period ending at 10 a.m. yesterday.
The total number of Sri Lankan returnees from abroad to test positive has thus increased to 1,145, while 44 foreigners are also included in the imported cases. As for local cases, 950 Navy personnel and their close contacts and 640 persons connected to the Kandakadu Treatment and Rehabilitation Centre have tested positive.
The Sri Lanka Army states that the Kandakadu cluster includes 518 detainees, 67 staff members, 48 family members and close associates, and five guest staffers. The Sri Lanka Army added that 624 persons of the Kandakadu cluster have recovered and 15 persons remain under medical care.
Sri Lanka’s active COVID-19 cases increased from 180 at 10 a.m. on Tuesday to 203 yesterday and the Epidemiology Unit states that 86 of the COVID-19 patients are receiving treatment at the Welikanda Base Hospital, 59 are at the National Institute of Infectious Diseases (NIID), 39 are at the Iranawila Hospital, and two are at the Colombo East Base Hospital. The active cases include 11 foreigners.
In addition to this, 77 persons suspected of having COVID-19 are being monitored at various hospitals, including 16 at the Sri Jayewardenepura Hospital, 15 at the Kotelawala Defence University (KDU) Hospital, and nine at the Welisara Chest Hospital.
The number of COVID-19 recoveries also increased yesterday, with the recovery of four persons. Two persons from the NIID and two persons from the Welikanda Base Hospital were discharged yesterday having recovered from COVID-19 and a total of 2,883 persons have recovered in the island so far.
The Health Promotion Bureau calculates the country’s recovery rate as 93.24%, while Sri Lanka’s fatality rate is 0.39% with 12 COVID-19-related deaths reported in the country thus far.
The Health Promotion Bureau added that 230,547 PCR tests have been performed in the island, including 2,495 tests on Tuesday.
In addition to this, 402 persons left quarantine centres yesterday having completed the process. This includes 255 persons from the Punani Quarantine Centre, 73 persons from the Jetwing Lagoon Quarantine Centre, 45 persons from the Hotel Dolphin Quarantine Centre, seven persons from the Hotel Jetwing Blue Quarantine Centre, seven persons from the Mount Lavinia Hotel Quarantine Centre, six persons from the Iranamadu Quarantine Centre, five persons from the Nipuna Boossa Quarantine Centre, and four persons from the Kalpitiya Ruwala Quarantine Centre.
The Sri Lanka Army stated that 35,338 persons have left quarantine centres so far and 7,990 persons remain in 70 centres managed by the Sri Lanka Army, Sri Lanka Navy, and Sri Lanka Air Force. The Sri Lanka Army added that 57 persons from Qatar and 29 civil sea marshals from UAE arrived in the island yesterday and have been directed to quarantine centres.
Sri Lanka Army Commander and National Operation Centre for the Prevention of the COVID-19 Outbreak (NOCPCO) Head Lt. Gen. Shavendra Silva yesterday emphasised the importance of following health guidelines to prevent the community spread of COVID-19 in the island.
“We see the majority of the public behaving like there has never been a COVID-19 case in Sri Lanka and some have forgotten that we have COVID-19 patients under medical care at various hospitals,” he said, adding that patients are being identified daily among groups returning from abroad.
Mentioning the large number of cases identified in neighbouring countries like India, Silva explained that Sri Lanka controlled the situation well and has to continue to control it well.
“Sri Lanka had COVID-19 patients, is currently treating patients in hospitals, and COVID-19 infected persons are returning to the country. It is the responsibility and duty of the people to ensure they do not contract the virus and take care of themselves, while living in a way that prevents the spread of COVID-19,” he added.
The NOCPCO Head requested the public to follow health guidelines issued despite there being no community spread at present, stating that, by doing so, the country will not face a threat of community spread even though patients are being currently treated in hospitals.
In a statement issued yesterday, the Sri Lanka Army Directorate of Media stated: “With the opening of classes in all schools, all principals and teachers in particular should take necessary steps, together with parents, to educate school children on the need to practice those health guidelines both inside and outside schools as a compulsory requirement.”
In addition to this, the Health Ministry stated that a donation of 200 portable ventilators was made by the US Agency for International Development (USAID) to Sri Lanka yesterday in efforts to strengthen COVID-19 treatment measures in the island.
