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Saturday Nov 23, 2024
Tuesday, 1 February 2022 02:46 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}
By Shailendree Wickrama Adittiya
Daily COVID-19 detections remained over 1,000 for the second consecutive day with 1,082 persons testing positive for COVID-19 yesterday.
The patients detected yesterday include 1,076 persons from the New Year cluster and six overseas arrivals.
The previous day, 1,054 persons from the New Year cluster and two Sri Lankan overseas arrivals tested positive for COVID-19. According to the Health Promotion Bureau, 8,207 PCR tests and 4,296 rapid antigen tests were conducted on Sunday.
A total of 611,185 COVID-19 patients have been detected in the country to date.
This includes 505,709 persons from the New Year cluster, 82,785 persons from the Peliyagoda cluster, 9,135 persons from the Prisons cluster, and 3,059 persons from the Divulapitiya cluster.
The country’s imported cases include 7,173 Sri Lankans and 328 foreigners.
According to the Epidemiology Unit, 124,204 persons from Colombo, 105,336 persons from Gampaha, 54,992 persons from Kalutara, 40,073 persons from Galle, and 29,271 persons from Kurunegala have tested positive for COVID-19.
During the third wave of the pandemic, 91,907 patients from Colombo, 86,802 patients from Gampaha, and 47,934 patients from Kalutara were detected.
The Epidemiology Unit states that 578,432 persons have recovered from COVID-19 to date, with 381 persons released from care yesterday.
At present, 17,312 persons are under medical or home-based care and 1,827 persons suspected of having COVID-19 are under observation.
The operation of 14 trains was suspended yesterday due to a high number of COVID-19 patients and close contacts reported from railway stations.
According to a statement issued by Sri Lanka Railways, six trains on the main line, two trains on the coastal line, three trains on the Puttalam line, two trains on the Kelaniweli line, and a Kurunegala train that travels on the Northern line were suspended yesterday.
As of yesterday, 48 COVID-19 patients and close contacts, mainly regulators, had been identified from Sri Lanka Railways and had called in sick.
According to Lady Ridgeway Hospital for Children Director Dr. G. Wijesuriya, there has been a rise in COVID-19 spread among children.
“Twenty to 25 children are reported as COVID-19 positive at the Lady Ridgeway Hospital for Children daily. However, none of these children are extremely ill and there has been no rapid increase in ICU requirements,” he said.
The majority of the patients are directed for home-based care, but Dr. Wijesuriya said it is a medical professional that must decide if a child qualifies for home-based care.
He thus urged parents to seek medical advice if their children experience any COVID-19 symptoms.
According to Sri Lanka College of Paediatricians Secretary Dr. Channa de Silva, there are over 50 children currently receiving treatment at the Lady Ridgeway Hospital for Children. This number was less than 20 a few weeks ago, he said.
“With the new variant, symptoms are often not seen. At the Castle Street Hospital for Women, we are seeing an increase in patients. We have been able to vaccinate pregnant women and thanks to vaccination, we are not seeing a rise in health complications and deaths,” Dr. Saman Kumara said.
With COVID-19 detections increasing, health officials have decided to extend the existing health guidelines until the end of the month.
