Sunday Dec 22, 2024
Sunday Dec 22, 2024
Wednesday, 6 January 2021 00:20 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}
By Shailendree Wickrama Adittiya
The Divulapitiya, Peliyagoda, and Prisons COVID-19 clusters rose to 41,977 patients with 484 persons testing positive for the virus yesterday.
According to the Department of Government Information, 479 associates of the Peliyagoda cluster were among the patients detected yesterday.
The total number of COVID-19 patients detected in the island currently stands at 45,726, of which, 7,249 are currently under medical care. According to the Epidemiology Unit, 512 persons at the Bingiriya Treatment Centre, 370 persons at the Gallela Treatment Centre, and 343 persons at the Punani Treatment Centre are among the country’s active patients.
Hospitals are also monitoring 613 persons suspected of having COVID-19.
The Epidemiology Unit adds that 445 persons were discharged from hospitals yesterday, including 37 persons from the Bingiriya Treatment Centre, 36 persons from the Neville Fernando Hospital, and 35 persons from the Yakkala Treatment Centre.
A total of 38,262 persons have recovered from COVID-19 to date.
According to the Epidemiology Unit, 30,805 COVID-19 patients have been detected from the Western Province. The district breakdown of this number is 18,197 from Colombo, 9,518 from Gampaha, and 3,090 from Kalutara.
The district distribution of COVID-19 patients also records 1,472 from Kandy, 771 from Kalmunai, and 675 from Galle.
The total count includes 468 patients detected on Monday, of which 183 were from Colombo, 73 were from Kandy, 72 were from Gampaha, and 28 were from Kurunegala.
According to the Health Promotion Bureau, 1,299,336 PCR tests have been carried out to date, including 10,774 tests on Monday.
Meanwhile, Police Spokesperson DIG Ajith Rohana yesterday stated that persons who fail to wear face masks will be subjected to testing.
“A decision was made [yesterday] to subject all persons who fail to wear a face mask to a PCR or rapid antigen test, in addition to arresting them and filing legal action against them,” he said, adding that in the previous 24 hours, 74 persons had been arrested for not wearing face masks or maintaining social distancing. “The total number of arrests made in this regard is 2,172.”
The Police Spokesperson explained that the decision to subject such persons to PCR or rapid antigen testing is because their noncompliance with safety guidelines could expose them to the virus or transmit the virus to other people. Rapid antigen testing on fish and vegetable vendors and at markets and economic centres will continue as well. However, the measures will expand to other areas of the island in addition to the Western Province, DIG Ajith Rohana said.
Meanwhile, the National Operations Centre for the Prevention of the COVID-19 Outbreak (NOCPCO) yesterday stated that St. Andrew’s Road and Upper and Lower St. Andrew’s Road in Mutwal were isolated from 5 a.m. yesterday.
