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Several individuals from high-risk areas in Colombo lined up at Pettah yesterday to receive their PCR tests – Pic by Ruwan Walpola
By Shailendree Wickrama Adittiya
Sri Lanka’s highest number of COVID-19 patients identified in a day was recorded yesterday, with over 860 persons testing positive. According to the Department of Government Information, 865 patients were identified yesterday, of which the majority were from the Peliyagoda Fish Market sub-cluster and the Minuwangoda Brandix cluster.
Of the remaining cases, 48 are employees and contacts at quarantine centres, 40 are other contacts, 20 are from the Beruwala Fishery Harbour, and five from the Galle Fishery Harbour.
This brings the Divulapitiya cluster count to 3,682. Prior to this, the highest number of daily patients was identified on 6 October, when 519 persons, including 506 persons belonging to the Divulapitiya cluster, tested positive for COVID-19, Epidemiology Unit data shows.
The total number of confirmed patients identified in the island has thus risen to 7,153, which includes 1,462 Sri Lankan returnees from abroad, 950 Navy personnel and their close contacts, 651 persons connected to the Kandakadu cluster, and 95 foreigners.
The Epidemiology Unit states that the country’s count of active patients has increased to 3,495. This includes 501 persons at the Neville Fernando Teaching Hospital, 217 persons at the Kamburugamuwa Hospital, 151 persons at the National Institute of Infectious Diseases (NIID), and 151 persons at the Kattankudy Hospital.
As of yesterday morning, there were 26 treatment facilities dedicated for COVID-19 patients. Hospitals are also monitoring 426 persons suspected of having COVID-19.
The Epidemiology Unit adds that the number of COVID-19 recoveries in the country rose to 3,644, with 83 persons being discharged from hospitals having recovered from the virus. This includes 40 from the Minuwangoda Base Hospital, 11 from the Kamburugamuwa Hospital, eight from the NIID, and seven from the Iranawila Hospital.
Meanwhile, the National Operation Centre for the Prevention of the COVID-19 Outbreak (NOCPCO) said eight persons from Qatar and nine persons from Japan arrived in the island yesterday and were directed to quarantine centres. A total of 8,632 persons are currently undergoing the process at 73 centres managed by the Tri-Forces.
In addition to this, 281 persons left centres yesterday, having completed the process. A total of 56,302 persons have left quarantine centres to date.
The Defence Ministry issued a statement yesterday on a 26-year-old resident of Wellampitiya who tested positive for COVID-19 and was receiving treatment at the Salawa Hospital in Kosgama. The individual left the hospital premises yesterday and was believed to have used public transport to travel to Borella, where he was found at a housing complex later in the day.
Police Spokesperson DIG Ajith Rohana stated that investigations have been launched into the matter and that legal action will be taken against the individual after he has completed necessary treatment and quarantine procedures.
DIG Ajith Rohana also addressed claims of island-wide curfew to be implemented during the weekend, saying no such decision had been made yesterday, after the NOCPCO met in the evening to discuss recommendations regarding the current situation in the country.
DIG Ajith Rohana stressed that the Government did not intend to enforce island-wide quarantine curfew, but added that decisions will be taken having monitored PCR test results and the overall situation.
“Quarantine curfew is currently enforced in 44 police jurisdictions, which are all 33 police jurisdictions of the Gampaha District, five police jurisdictions in Colombo North, and five police jurisdictions in Wellampitiya and Kuliyapitiya,” he said, adding: “We have deployed additional strength in order to enforce the quarantine curfew, especially on Saturday and Sunday.”
The Police Spokesperson explained that public and vehicle movement in these areas is strictly prohibited, but that vehicles can travel through these areas. “Under no circumstances are they allowed to stop their vehicles, and they cannot load or unload goods or passengers,” he went on to say.
Employees of essential services like health, fire, fuel and energy, water supply, electricity, and media as well as special sectors like the port and airport can use their official identity cards as curfew permits. Restrictions will not be imposed on students sitting for the G.C.E Advanced Level examinations, invigilators, and staff.
“We have arrested approximately 700 suspects for violating quarantine curfew since 4 October after the emergence of the Minuwangoda cluster. In addition to that, we have taken 100 vehicles into police custody for violating quarantine curfew rules and regulations,” DIG Ajith Rohana said.
He also requested all persons who visited the Peliyagoda Fish Market in the last 10 days to be cautious, inform relevant health authorities, and get tested for COVID-19.
Regarding factories in curfew-imposed areas, DIG Ajith Rohana said operations can continue but all employees must be provided transport to and from work as they will not be permitted to travel in their personal vehicles.
All such facilities will also be required to allocate an officer for COVID-19 prevention and ensure employee safety, Environment and Occupational Health Unit Representative Dr. Inoka Suraweera said yesterday.
She explained that the officer’s name, contact details and other information must be submitted to the relevant medical officer of health via the PHI in charge of the area without delay. The information must also be submitted to the director of the relevant zone if it is a BOI company.
The officer will be required to provide daily updates to the relevant medical officer of health on any employees displaying symptoms of COVID-19, along with their name, contact details, and permanent and temporary addresses.
The Health Ministry also requested the public to continue to adhere to COVID-19 safety guidelines and Assistant Director General Health Services Dr. Hemantha Herath said: “Considering the speed at which this virus spreads, the chances of this developing into an uncontrollable level are high if public assistance is not duly received.”
He added: “The current situation is in no way one we cannot control. However, the public must take to heart that this is an extremely serious situation.”
Meanwhile, Chief Epidemiologist Dr. Sudath Samaraweera yesterday addressed concerns regarding community transmission in the country, saying that as per definitions provided by the World Health Organisation (WHO), what is seen in Sri Lanka is still a cluster with sub-clusters.
“We will have to carry out more PCR tests in the coming days to identify this cluster. The sub-cluster that emerged from the Peliyagoda Fish Market is large and is one that spreads across the country,” he added.
Dr. Samaraweera added that the Government is prepared to deal with the challenge of identifying patients from across the country and is carrying out PCR testing and quarantining as required in a timely manner.
Wallalvita, Uluvita South, Wedawatta, and Madurumasvila were declared as isolated areas yesterday.
