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Friday, 30 April 2021 03:25 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}
By Shailendree Wickrama Adittiya
Over 1,500 COVID-19 positive persons were detected in the island yesterday and the country’s total patient count has risen to 106,484.
Health authorities have introduced a New Year cluster and 1,491 of the 1,531 patients detected yesterday were linked to the new cluster. Grouped with the Divulapitiya, Peliyagoda and Prisons clusters, the total number of patients detected in relation to the clusters is 100,736.
40 overseas arrivals also tested positive for COVID-19 yesterday.
The Epidemiology Unit states that the country’s local cases, excluding yesterday’s patients, include 82,785 patients from the fish market/harbour cluster, 8,578 patients from the New Year cluster, 4,823 patients from the prisons cluster, 3,059 patients from the Minuwangoda cluster, as well as 950 Navy personnel and their contacts and 651 persons form the Kandakadu cluster.
The imported cases include 3,499 Sri Lankan returnees from abroad and 295 foreigners.
According to the Epidemiology Unit, 10,372 persons are currently under medical care and hospitals also have 1,113 persons suspected of having COVID-19 under observation.
The active cases include 479 persons at the Bingiriya Treatment Centre, 422 persons at the Giriulla Treatment Centre, and 308 persons at the Neville Fernando Teaching Hospital.
Hospitals also discharged 362 COVID-19 recoveries yesterday, including 146 persons from the Dambadeniya Treatment Centre. A total of 95,445 persons have recovered from COVID-19 to date.
According to the Health Promotion Bureau, 14,365 PCR tests were performed on Wednesday. However, Deputy Director General of Laboratory Services of the Health Ministry Dr. Sudath Dharmaratne yesterday said: “Over 2.7 million PCR tests have been performed since March 2020. The highest number of PCR tests was performed [on Wednesday], which was 23,730 tests.” Meanwhile, Public Health Inspectors (PHIs) yesterday claimed that random PCR testing in the country has been suspended in several districts.
“Several districts have been informed to immediately suspend random PCR testing. Halting PCR testing at this point can worsen the situation,” PHI Union President Upul Rohana said.
He added that if this was done due to a shortage in equipment or any other issue, health officers and the public should be informed about it.
“Reducing the number of PCR tests and creating a belief among the public that the number of patients detected is dropping instead can contribute to the further spread of the disease,” he added.
Primary Health Care, Epidemics and COVID Disease Control State Minister Dr. Sudarshini Fernandopulle stated that the number of positive results from PCR tests has risen from 3% to 8%.
“The rise from 3% to 8% has taken place quickly, within a period of 10 days, and we believe it will continue to rise,” she said.
The State Minister went on to say that clusters have emerged across the country and that measures are already in place to establish intermediate treatment centres in every district so that patient management can take place within the district itself.
“I spoke to the Health Ministry Secretary [yesterday] about giving Provincial Directors of Health Services the power to discuss with the Government Agent and enforce movement restrictions as necessary,” she went on to say.
Lady Ridgeway Hospital for Children Director Dr. G. Wijesuriya yesterday said the number of COVID-19 patients detected among patients and staff of the hospital have increased.
“We saw an increase in the number of patients at the hospital in the past two weeks, with five patients reported a day and one staff member a day. So, this is now spreading in hospitals as well,” Dr. Wijesuriya said.
However, he explained that COVID-19 patients are not treated at the hospital and that people should not fear seeking medical care if they are sick.
“In the past few months, we saw how we sometimes cannot save a child’s life when treatment is sought only after their condition has worsened,” he added.
Six Grama Niladhari (GN) Divisions in the Trincomalee District were yesterday placed under isolation to control the spread of COVID-19 in the area, the National Operations Centre for the Prevention of the COVID-19 Outbreak (NOCPCO) stated.
The Sumedhangapura GN Division in the Uppuveli Police Division, the Moodovi, Koviladi and Linga Nagar GN Divisions in the Trincomalee Police Division, and the Kavattikuda and China Bay GN Divisions in the China Bay Police Division have been isolated.
According to the Trincomalee Provincial Health Services Director Dr. D.G.M Costa, approximately 60 patients are detected a day in the area.
“Arrangements are being made to prepare a place for ICU patients,” he added.
According to the situation report published by the Epidemiology Unit yesterday, 672 COVID-19 patients have been detected from Trincomalee District
to date. The district distribution of COVID-19 patients also shows 32,065 patients from Colombo, 19,862 patients from Gampaha, 7,393 patients from Kalutara, 4,503 patients from Kandy, and 4,312 patients from Kurunagala.
This includes the 1,466 COVID-19 COVID-19 patients detected on Wednesday, of which 228 were from Colombo, 209 were from Gampaha and 172 were from Kurunegala.
