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Friday, 18 December 2020 00:20 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}
By Shailendree Wickrama Adittiya
The total number of COVID-19 patients detected in the island yesterday exceeded 35,000 with the detection of 650 patients.
According to the Department of Government Information, the patients detected yesterday include 638 persons linked to the Peliyagoda COVID-19 cluster and 12 persons linked to the Prisons cluster. The triple clusters, which emerged with the Divulapitiya cluster on 4 October, has thus increased to 31,720 patients.
The total count of 35,387 patients also includes 1,628 Sri Lankan returnees from abroad, 950 Navy personnel and their contacts, 651 persons linked to the Kandakadu cluster, and 126 foreigners.
The Epidemiology Unit states that 8,874 persons are under medical care at various treatment centres, including 671 persons at the Punani Treatment Centre, 455 persons at the Bingiriya Treatment Centre, and 448 persons at the Kopai Treatment Centre.
According to Chief Epidemiologist Dr. Sudath Samaraweera, a higher number of patients are detected at present in comparison to two weeks ago. He added that the number of patients currently detected exceeds the number of patients discharged from treatment centres.
“At present, we have beds for the increasing number of patients,” he said, adding that health authorities have already started the process of identifying hospitals and intermediate treatment centres for COVID-19 patients if there is a need to expand the capacity in future.
Meanwhile, National Operations Centre for the Prevention of COVID-19 Outbreak (NOCPCO) Head Lt. Gen. Shavendra Silva said: “In addition to the hospital network in the country, we have also used quarantine centres managed by the tri-forces as treatment centres in the past. Today, of over 8,000 patients, 65% are not in hospitals but intermediate treatment centres which were previously quarantine centres.”
He added that certain persons prefer private hospitals for COVID-19 treatment due to the lack of facilities in State hospitals and that President Gotabaya Rajapaksa had also questioned why private paid-for hospitalisation cannot be provided.
As such, discussions with private hospital owners were held last week with Health Minister Pavithra Wanniarachchi, and Nawaloka Hospital and Lanka Hospitals had informed the NOCPCO that they can provide such services.
Arrangements are thus being made to convert hotels into treatment centres, especially for asymptomatic patients.
While such measures would expand the treatment capacities in the country, the Epidemiology Unit states that hospitals are monitoring 467 persons suspected of having COVID-19.
Hospitals also discharged 701 persons yesterday, including 105 persons from the Kandakadu Treatment Centre, 94 persons from the Bingiriya Treatment Centre, and 48 persons from the Panideniya Treatment Centre. A total of 26,535 persons have recovered from COVID-19 to date.
The Epidemiology Unit adds that 14,405 persons from the Colombo District, 7,627 persons from the Gampaha District, and 2,038 persons from the Kalutara District have tested positive for COVID-19. The total patient count also includes 956 from Kandy, 481 from Kurunegala, and 464 from Kalmunai. Of the 616 COVID-19 patients detected on Wednesday, 266 were from Colombo, 99 were from Kandy, 94 were from Gampaha, and 48 were from Kalutara.
Several areas were isolated yesterday, including Nafeerwatte in the Wellawatte Police Jurisdiction and the Alupoth Grama Niladhari Division in the Moneragala District. Nine areas in the Akkaraipattu, Addalachchenai and Alayadivembu Police Jurisdictions have also been isolated, the NOCPCO announced.
“The isolation order in respect of nine Police areas remains as it is and, in addition to that, 24 Grama Niladhari Divisions have been locked down in various areas. The Police have arrested 32 suspects in connection with offences of face masks and social distancing in the last 24 hours,” Police Spokesperson DIG Ajith Rohana said yesterday.
He added that a total of 1,525 suspects have been arrested in connection with the same offences since 30 October.
According to the Police Spokesperson, Police and security forces may carry out special operations to prevent the spread of COVID-19 during the coming weeks and the public is requested to keep their personal details with them as they may be required to submit them to officials.
DIG Ajith Rohana also requested all persons, especially those from lockdown areas, to provide correct information when required to do so. “It has been observed that COVID-19 positive patients and persons who have been instructed to give samples for PCR testing have given fake or false addresses or names to the health authorities and in addition to that they have provided some bogus information with respect to their identity,” he explained.
Meanwhile, the NOCPCO states that 42 persons from Qatar, 42 persons from Oman, and six persons from the Maldives arrived in the island yesterday. All overseas arrivals have been directed for quarantine. At present, 8,012 persons are undergoing the process at 81 centres.
