Twenty-five people were diagnosed with COVID-19 yesterday, bringing the total number of cases to 690 but health authorities were optimistic that cluster control was effective and the spread of the virus in the Colombo district was under control.
In addition, two elderly men who were undergoing quarantine at an Air Force-run quarantine centre in Mullaitivu died yesterday after being hospitalised for care at the Mullayaveli Hospital.
According to the Air Force Spokesman Group Captain Dushan Wijesinghe, the two individuals had been part of the group of 268 destitute persons and beggars who were moved to quarantine in mid-April from the Gunasinghepura area in Colombo.
Both elderly men had been admitted to the Mullayaveli hospital yesterday due to deteriorating health and passed away while under treatment, Gp. Capt. Wijesinghe told the Daily FT, adding that test samples have been extracted from both deceased and is due to be subjected to PCR testing for the COVID-19 virus.
The remains of the two men were kept at the Mullayaveli Hospital’s morgue, pending PCR results. A postmortem will be conducted once the COVID-19 test results are received, Gp. Capt. Wijesinghe said. "Most of the individuals who were moved into quarantine from Gunasinghepura had no official Identification documents on them. We registered them based on the details provided to us,” Gp. Capt. Wijesinghe said.
The deaths come in the wake of 25 persons testing positive for COVID-19 yesterday, raising the total of confirmed cases to 690 as of last evening. According to the Epidemiology Unit of the Ministry of Health, 520 patients are under treatment and 162 patients have recovered and been released from care. Seven patients have succumbed to the virus so far.
According to the Ministry of Defence, a total of 21,000 PCR tests have been conducted as of yesterday morning. Out of 997 sailors tested for the virus, 159 have tested positive for COVID-19 as of yesterday.
Director General of Health Services Dr. Anil Jasinghe, issuing a press release, said that the COVID-19 spread in Colombo is being controlled effectively by health authorities.
"At present, we are conducting many PCR tests in the Colombo area. Target groups have been identified and are being subjected to testing. We can't yet say that we have the situation under control 100%. However, we haven't lost control of it. We have gained significant control over the situation,” he stated.
Dr. Jasinghe said that PCR testing is maintained at 1,500 tests a day and those who are to be subjected will be decided by health authorities. "However, if the necessity arises, we can expand test capacity to 3,000 tests a day." he added.
Dr. Jasinghe downplayed concerns about the COVID-19 test kits provided by China, stating that he was satisfied with the Chinese and other test kits used as their accuracy has been validated repeatedly.
However, Dr. Jasinghe stressed that the ultimate control of the COVID-19 spread lies with the public and urged them to strictly adhere to public health guidelines such as social distancing, washing of hands and wearing face masks
(FT)