Thursday Nov 14, 2024
Thursday Nov 14, 2024
Monday, 16 November 2020 00:30 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}
Health authorities yesterday confirmed five COVID-19-related deaths, which brings the total COVID-19 death toll to 58.
All individuals were residents of the Colombo municipal area, including two from Colombo-13. According to the Department of Government Information (DGI), a 54-year-old man from Colombo-13 passed away at the National Hospital of Sri Lanka (NHSL) when the lung cancer he suffered from for a lengthy period worsened due to COVID-19.
The other resident of Colombo-13 was 88-years-old and passed away when he was being admitted to the NHSL. The cause of death is cited as COVID-19 and a heart attack.
Another 88-year-old resident of Colombo-12 also passed when he was being admitted to the NHSL with chest pains. Health authorities state he died of a heart attack caused by COVID-19.
The statement issued by the DGI states that a resident of Borella passed away at home when his chronic lung disease worsened due to COVID-19. The individual was 79-years-old.
In addition to this, a 39-year-old individual from Colombo-15 was admitted to the Homagama Hospital after testing positive for COVID-19. However, he passed away due to cancer and COVID pneumonia.
The second wave of COVID-19 in the island has led to a significant increase in the number of COVID-19 deaths, with the Epidemiology Unit’s situation report published on 4 October, when the first patient of the Divulapitiya and Peliyagoda dual cluster was identified, showing only 13 deaths.
The death count remained unchanged until 19 October and gradually rose to 20 by 31 October. The number of COVID-19 deaths identified until October this year doubled in November alone.
Regarding the country’s COVID-19 death count, Chief Epidemiologist Dr. Sudath Samaraweera yesterday said: “Considering the [58] deaths and the country’s population, it is equal to two deaths per one million people, so this disease is still at a controllable level.”
