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As the number of new COVID-19 cases continued to decline, Health Minister Pavithra Wanniarachchi yesterday said the time was right for the Government to contemplate the gradual easing of restrictions and allowing the economy to chart a resurgence.
“We were prompt in taking decisions which ensure this virus did not spread across the country; we introduced curfew and it has lasted over a month but as a fewer number of cases are being reported from the public, with none on some days, I think it’s time the Government looked at easing restrictions gradually and saving the economy,” Wanniarachchi said, speaking at a press conference yesterday.
Director General Health Services Dr. Anil Jasinghe joined her in addressing the media at the National Operations Centre for the Prevention of COVID19 (NOCPC).
The Health Minister’s comments came in the wake of four persons testing positive for COVID-19 yesterday, bring the total infected to 242 and the number of active cases to 158.
According to the Health Promotion Bureau, 148 people are receiving treatment for the virus in several specialised hospitals islandwide. Seven patients who recovered were released from care yesterday, bringing the number of those who recovered to 77. Seven persons have succumbed to the virus to date.
Addressing the media, Dr. Jasinghe stated that three of those who had tested positive yesterday were women living at the Punani quarantine centre. The location of the fourth person to test positive was not disclosed at the press conference.
“For six days prior no one was admitted to a hospital with COVID-19, except for one patient who was identified when admitted to the General Hospital,” he said.
Dr. Jasinghe said that more than 500 PCR tests for COVID-19 were conducted yesterday and that the number of testing centres had been expanded to 13 islandwide, with Batticaloa to begin testing soon.
The increase in testing came in the backdrop of the Government Medical Officers’ Association (GMOA) and others renewing calls for the Government to aggressively expand testing.
The Chinese Government yesterday delivered a stock of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) and 20,000 PCR test kits to the Government, which was handed over to the Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa.
Dr. Jasinghe stated that he had issued a circular to all hospitals and clinics, especially ones that treat children and infants, to reopen for treatment under strict guidelines after curfew is gradually lifted in some parts of the country in the coming days.
“We have requested the clinics that operate in the field to do so by having multiple sessions in different locations, closer to the public to ensure proper social distancing is followed by those who come for treatment and that there is no crowd gathering at one location,” he explained.
He called on parents to try to ensure that where possible, only the mother and child visit the clinic and do so while strictly following public health regulations to prevent unnecessary gatherings at clinic facilities. He urged the public to continue to follow the guidelines to prevent the spread of COVID-19 and for their own safety.
According to the Army, 222 persons who completed a 14-day quarantine program at the Punani quarantine centre were released following medical check-ups.
The Police and Public Health Inspectors (PHIs) in Colombo yesterday moved 300 homeless people and those who were engaged in begging to quarantine centres after reports emerged that a COVID-19 infected person may have interacted with them last week.
The group was provided meals and new clothing by the Police and given the opportunity to bathe before being disinfected and transported to the quarantine centres. Police said that the move was taken as a precautionary measure to prevent the spread of COVID-19.
According to Police Spokesman SP Jaliya Senarathne, more than 62,000 persons had been directed to self-quarantine at home since 17 March, with 39,000 individuals having completed the quarantine program to date. More than 23,000 remain in self quarantine, he said.
“The Inspector General of Police (IGP) has instructed all Police stations to perform a post-quarantine check on all those who have completed the process, as health authorities have found several cases where persons who completed quarantine have been found to be infected with COVID-19 after the mandated 14-day period,” SP Senarathne said in a video recording. Those found with any symptoms would be directed to public health authorities, he added.
SP Senarathne said he was disappointed that in spite of considerable publicity, the Police had had to arrest and charge over 30,000 individuals for violating curfew regulations from 20 March to date. Most of those charged have been released and will have to present themselves before Court when summoned.
