17 new COVID-19 cases as SL begins gradual reopening

Seventeen people tested positive for COVID-19 yesterday as the Government continued to roll out measures to lift curfew in most areas of the country and encourage economic activity. 

Addressing the press at the National Operations Centre for the Prevention of COVID-19 (NOCPC) yesterday, Army Commander Lt. Gen. Shavendra de Silva said that the 15 people who tested positive were all in quarantine centres and had been in touch with a female patient who tested positive for COVID-19 in Kotahena four days ago. Two more were tested positive later in the evening.

“We acted promptly to move persons exposed to her to quarantine. The 15 who tested positive were those who were in touch with her. This includes 10 persons from the same family,” Lt. Gen. Silva said. He explained that several family members of the Kotahena patient had already tested positive to the virus in the preceding days. 

Yesterday’s 17 brought the total number of confirmed COVID-19 patients in Sri Lanka to 271, with 96 patients having been released after recovery. According to the Epistemology Unit of the Ministry of Health, 171 active patients remain in treatment with 122 suspected patients under observation island-wide. Seven patients have succumbed to the virus. 

According to Lt. Gen. Silva, 63 persons who completed their quarantine program were released from the Punani quarantine centre yesterday after receiving a medical check-up, bringing the total released from quarantine to 4,143. “A further 1,563 remain in quarantine at 19 centres island-wide,” he added. 

The Army Commander emphasised the need for the public to protect themselves and others once curfew is lifted in selected parts of the country according to directives from the Presidential Secretariat. “Entry into Colombo district till Wednesday will be only for essential services as before,” he added.