Thursday Nov 21, 2024
Thursday Nov 21, 2024
Monday, 23 August 2021 00:19 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}
By Shailendree Wickrama Adittiya
Over 8,000 persons tested positive for COVID-19 over the weekend and the country’s total COVID-19 detections has risen to 390,000.
Health officials confirmed 4,304 COVID-19 detections yesterday, with 4,282 persons from the New Year cluster and 22 overseas arrivals testing positive for the virus. The previous day, 3,884 persons tested positive for COVID-19. Of this, 3,882 were from the New Year cluster and two were from the Prisons cluster.
The Epidemiology Unit states that the total patient count includes 282,798 persons from the New Year cluster, 82,785 persons from the Peliyagoda cluster, 8,080 persons from the Prisons cluster, and 3,059 persons from the Divulapitiya cluster.
The country’s imported cases consist of 6,732 Sri Lankans and 328 foreigners.
Of the total COVID-19 detections, 88,952 persons are from Colombo, 70,545 persons are from Gampaha, 40,823 persons are from Kalutara, 20,571 persons are from Galle, and 18,546 persons are from Kurunegala.
During the third wave of the pandemic, 56,655 persons from Colombo, 52,011 persons from Gampaha, and 33,765 persons from Kalutara.
At present, 40,475 persons are under medical or home-based care and 3,110 persons suspected of having COVID-19 are under observation.
According to Health Promotion Bureau Director Dr. Ranjith Batuwanthudawa, the main reason for the introductions of home-based care for asymptomatic patients aged between two and 65 years with no comorbidities was the rapid increase in COVID-19 patients as well as the number of patients requiring oxygen and medical care due to complications of the disease. Due to this, hospitals had to reserve beds for patients with complications.
This was a result of the spread of the Delta variant. According to Prof. Neelika Malavige, a professor attached to the Department of Immunology and Molecular Medicine of the Sri Jayewardenepura University’s Faculty of Medical Sciences, studies are being carried out on the four mutations of the Delta variant detected in Sri Lanka.
However, the studies were looking at how the mutations can impact transmissibility as it has been found that the mutations are not at a level where they can impact the vaccination process.
With regard to home-based care, the Health Promotion Bureau Director said that patients qualifying for home-based care should also be able to regularly communicate with the program and have facilities to be isolated in a separate room.
“The home-based care program first began in Kalutara District as a pilot project and we received good results. Not a single death was reported from Kalutara District from persons who received home-based care,” Dr. Batuwanthudawa said, adding that 5% of patients required hospitalisation but were successfully provided hospital care as soon as they began to develop complications.
In response to a question about data differences between the Health Promotion Bureau and the Epidemiology Unit, Dr. Batuwanthudawa admitted a mistake was made by the Health Promotion Bureau on Saturday with regard to the number of COVID-19 fatalities, but it was corrected immediately.
According to Acting Chief Epidemiologist Dr. Samitha Ginige, there are certain delays in data being reported due to the need to verify COVID-19 detections in the country. This was a result of the dynamics of the disease, he explained.
“With the introduction of rapid antigen testing, a large number of laboratories, authorised laboratories as well as some GP practices and small-scale practices, widely do rapid antigen testing all over the country,” he said, explaining that this can also cause delays.
The Acting Chief Epidemiologist went on to say that PCR tests are now used for target populations and rapid antigen tests are used for symptomatic patients, as it has been found to be effective.
According to the Health Promotion Bureau, 19,083 PCR tests were carried out yesterday and 19,963 PCR tests and 5,473 rapid antigen tests were carried out on Saturday.
Meanwhile, the Sri Lanka Navy stated that Indian Naval Ship (INS) Shakti reached Sri Lanka yesterday with approximately 100 tonnes of medical-grade oxygen ordered from India. Meanwhile Sri Lanka Naval Ship Shakthi was expected at midnight yesterday with approximately 40 tonnes of oxygen from India.
