Coronavirus Updates

Quarantine curfew in Gampaha district from tonight till Monday

ECONOMYNEXT – Sri Lanka will impose a “quarantine curfew” in the Gampaha district from 2200 hrs today (21 October) to Monday (26 October), Army Commander Lt Gen Shavendra Silva said.

It’s not clear if the sudden quarantine curfew in the district is due to the detection of 49 fish vendors in the Peliyagoda fish market earlier today. The market is located in the Gampaha district.

The COVID-19 situation report of the National Operations Centre for the Prevention of COVID-19 (NOCPOC), the country has had a total of 5,810 cases out of which 2,341 are active cases who are receiving treatments.

The Minuwangoda cluster alone has 2,344 patients, of which 1041 are staffs of Brandix and the rest of the 1,3030 cases are close contacts of the cluster.

Only 50 cases are reported from foreign returnees. (Colombo/oct21/2020)

As of now...

Coronavirus Cases:
41,494,389

Deaths:
1,136,462

Recovered:
30,916,843

437,441 new cases world wide sharply higher than previous day's count and the highest per day recorded so far !

6,855 more deaths significantly higher than previous 24 hours.

USA (63,663), India (56,000) & UK (26,688) are the three countries with highest number of new cases that drives the new cases.

USA (1,225), India (703) & Brazil (571) were the countries with highest new deaths for last 24 hours.

As of now...

Coronavirus Cases:
41,994,442

Deaths:
1,142,744

Recovered:
31,187,231

478,132 new cases world wide sharply higher than previous day's count and the highest per day recorded so far making it close to 500,000 per day !

6,470 more deaths lower than previous 24 hours.

USA (74,301), India (54,482) & France (41,662) are the three countries with highest number of new cases that drives the new cases.

USA (973), India (683) & Mexico (522) were the countries with highest new deaths for last 24 hours.

Total COVID-19 cases in Sri Lanka surge past 6,000 with 50 new confirmed patients today

ECONOMYNEXT – Total COVID-19 cases in Sri Lanka passed 6,000 today, with health authorities confirming 50 new patients this afternoon.

The new patients were reported from Katunayaka and the Peliyagoda fish market sub cluster today, the National Operation Centre for Prevention of COVID-19 (NOCPOC) said in a statement.

Of 50 new cases, 22 are from ‘Next’ and ‘Chiefway’ apparel factories in the Katunayaka Free Trade Zone (FTZ), six from the Peliyagoda fish market. Twenty-two patients are close contacts of the fish market patients, NOCPOC said.

With the 22 new patients, the number of positive cases from the Katunayaka FTZ has increased to 253.

With the new cases, total confirmed COVID-19 patients in the island has risen to 6,028. Some 341 individuals are currently under investigation in hospitals, with 2,454 active cases.

Meanwhile, Army Commander Lt Gen Shavendra Silva said the Kotahena Police area will also be under quarantine curfew with immediate effect from 6.00 pm today until further notice.

So far, Sri Lanka police has imposed quarantine curfew in Kuliyapitiya, Pannala Giriulla, Narammala and Dummalasuriya police jurisdictions, the towns of Minuwangoda, Divulapitiya, Veyangoda, Gampaha, Kirindiwela, Dompe, Pugoda, Ganemulla, Weeragula, Weliweriya, Malwathuhiripitiya, Nittambuwa, Meerigama, Pallewela, Yakkala, Ja-ela, Seeduwa and Kandana Police areas, Aththanagalla, Meerigama divisional secretary areas as well as Maligathanna, Kurigama, Eluwapitiya villages, Katunayaka, Ovitigala, Badugama, Badugma Nawa Janapadaya in the Matugama Divisional Secretariat, Mattakkuliya, Modara, Bloemendal, Grandpass, Wellampitiya police areas. (Colombo/Oct22/2020)

309 new COVID-19 patients in Sri Lanka; total cases rise to 6,287

ECONOMYNEXT – Sri Lankan health officials identified 309 new COVID-19 patients over a 24-hour period that ended at 6am today (23), the National Operations Centre for the Prevention of COVID-19 (NOCPOC) said.

Of the 309 patients, 121 are from the Minuwangoda cluster and 188 are from the Peliyagoda fish market.

The total number of Covid 19 positive patients found in the Peliyagoda fish market increased to 240 with the new 188 positive cases case.

NOCPOC reports said new patients have been identified from Gampaha, Galle, Colombo, Matara, Kurunegala, Peliyagoda and Anuradhapura areas.

With the new cases, total confirmed COVID-19 patients in the island has risen to 6,287. Some 341 individuals are currently under investigation in hospitals, with 2,712 active cases.

Sixty Sri Lankan patients returned home upon recovery as at 6am today bringing total recoveries in Sri Lanka to 3,561. Of these 60, five are returnees from abroad and 55 are patients from the Minuwangoda cluster.

The number of patients reported from the Minuwangoda cluster has increased to 2,631 with the new 121 positive cases identified.

NOCPOC reports showed that after the first positive case of the Divulapitiya cluster was discovered by health authorities on October 03, within the first week the cluster increased to 1,186 and by third week to 2,631, with 1,328 employees and 1,303 close contacts being identified as positive cases.

Some 281 people ended their quarantine at military-run centres yesterday, according to NOCPOC. A total of 56,302 people have completed quarantine so far.

Meanwhile, the number of people in quarantine in 73 centres run by the armed forces is 8,632.

A total of 415,243 PCR tests have been conducted in the island so far, with 8,071 tests carried out yesterday, NOCPOC reports said, adding that the results of some PCR tests are still pending.

By this morning, 17 returnees arrived in Colombo, eight of whom flew in from Chennai, India, and nine from Narita, Japan, NOCPOC said, adding that all returnees will be directed to military-run quarantine centres.

Sri Lanka as at October 23 records 14 COVID-19 related deaths.

Sri Lanka police have imposed quarantine curfew in 35 police areas in five districts.

Hospitals in Minuwangoda, Welikanda, Iranawila, Rambukkana, Kamburugamuwa, Kattankudi, Hambanthota, Theldeniya, Mulleriyawa, as well as the Infectious Diseases Hospital (IDH) and the Neville Fernando Hospital and the Homagama, Ambalpola and Laggala, Pallegama hospitals have been taken over by the health services department to treat COVID-19 patients.

So far 353 patients have been reported from the free trade zone where 350are from the ‘Next Manufactures’ and the ‘Chiefway garment’, One from ‘Cosmo Loadstar’ Ja ela, Custom Office Colombo and, Micro pvt Ltd Peliyagoda.

Upon the discovery of a sub cluster of infected persons around a fish-market in Peliyagoda where officials had suspected cross-infections, prompting authorities to impose curfew in the area.

Sri Lanka’s anti-coronavirus task force had been analysing the data from the fish-market, where officials had said cross-infections may have taken place with the main cluster in Minuwangoda.

Meanwhile, a COVID-19 positive patient that was admitted to the Kosgama Hospital for treatment has escaped, NOCPOC said in a statement.

NOCPOC said the 26 year-old male patient was admitted to the hospital around 1.30 am today and the patient ran away from the hospital around 6.00 am.

The statement said the patient is a resident of Sithawaka Waththa, Kelaniya. (Colombo/Oct23/2020)

Government urged to increase testing to control second wave of Covid 19

ECONOMYNEXT – Sri Lanka should decide whether to keep the country running in a new normal situation where the Covid 19 pandemic is accepted as a reality we have to deal with or go in for a lockdown once again, National People’s Power leader Anura Kumara Dissanayake told Parliament today.

Opening a debate on the current Covid situation Dissanayake said the country appreciates the work of the government, the Health Services and the Security Forces in containing the pandemic but “we have to realize that we are in the midst of a second wave,” he said

He also said that officials have said that they have not discovered how the virus entered the Brandix apparel factory in Minuwangoda, one of the epicentres of the current Covid outbreak.

“I urge you to conduct a full investigation into the issue, did any staff who were brought from India work in the factory and were they properly quarantined,” asked.

From the government side Professor Channa Jayasumana said that the Brandix staff who were brought in from India on September 22 did undergo the required 14 days quarantined “and we have the certificates issued by the PHIs to prove that.”

Opposition Leader Sajith Premadasa seconding Dissanayake’s motion urged the government to increase testing. He told Parliament that there were “millions of rupees worth of Testing Kits in the airport stuck there.” He urged Health Minister Pavithra Wanniarachchi to get the kits out and increase the number of random tests in the country.

He also urged the government to quickly appoint a new Director-General of Health Services as the former incumbent has been promoted the currently there is an acting officer.

Former Minister of Health Rajitha Senaratne also urged the government to increase testing and asked that robotic testing kits be used to speed up the process.

Senaratne also pointed out that in World Health Organisation Rankings, Sri Lanka was lower in safety and government support for society with regards to the Covid pandemic.

Minister Dullas Alahapperuma praised the efforts of the government to control the pandemic and said that compared to other countries in the region we have done better. (Colombo, October 23, 2020)

Army says no island-wide curfew this weekend as GMOA calls for zonal lockdown

ECONOMYNEXT – No island wide curfew will be imposed this weekend (October 24, 25), Sri Lanka Army spokesman Colonel Vijitha Hettiarachchi said.

Hettiarachchi issuing a statement said other than the 35 police areas currently under quarantine curfew, authorities will not impose a curfew on other areas.

Meanwhile, the Government Medical Officers Association (GMOA) called for a zonal lockdown to contain the spread of the novel coronavirus.

“Earlier we talked about individual clusters such as the Navy and the Kandakadu clusters. But with the Minuwangoda and Peliyagoda clusters, we have now identified several subclusters islandwide,” Senal Fernando, a GMOA spokesman told reporters today.

“We must understand that the risk is much greater than earlier,” he added.

According to the statistics, the GMOA further said, areas in Kurunegala, Gampaha, Kegalle, Colombo and Kalutara districts are high-risk areas.

“If we fail to identify patients in these areas quickly there is a risk of spreading this virus in a much greater way,” the spokesman said.

“This is why the GMOA called for a zonal lockdown when we started identifying these mini clusters,” he said.

“If we delay it, the virus can spread rapidly,” he added.

Sri Lanka Health and Security authorities have imposed quarantine curfew in 35 police areas in Gampaha, Kegall, Kalutara, Colombo and Kurunegala until further notice.

Sri Lankan health officials identified 309 new COVID-19 patients over a 24-hour period that ended at 6am today (23), the National Operations Centre for the

Prevention of COVID-19 (NOCPOC) said.

Of the 309 patients, 121 are from the Minuwangoda cluster and 188 are from the Peliyagoda fish market.

The total number of Covid 19 positive patients found in the Peliyagoda fish market increased to 240 with the new 188 positive cases.

NOCPOC reports said new patients have been identified from Gampaha, Galle, Colombo, Matara, Kurunegala, Peliyagoda and Anuradhapura areas.

With the new cases, the total confirmed COVID-19 patients on the island have risen to 6,287. (Colombo/Oct23/2020)

As of now...

Coronavirus Cases:
42,662,304

Deaths:
1,151,622

Recovered:
31,516,906

490,533 new cases world wide sharply higher than previous day's count and the highest per day recorded so far making it even close to 500,000 per day !

6,541 more deaths higher than previous 24 hours.

USA (81,210), India (54,028) & France (42,032) are the three countries with highest number of new cases that drives the new cases.

USA (903), India (656) & Brazil (566) were the countries with highest new deaths for last 24 hours.

Sri Lanka Coronavirus surge ‘serious’, as Covid-19 curfews widened

ECONOMYNEXT – Sri Lanka is continuing to send first contacts of confirmed Coronavirus patients on home quarantine with pending Covid-19 PCR tests, amid a ‘serious’ situation health officials said, showing a wide gap from strategies followed by more successful countries like Vietnam.

Though ‘serious’, the situation was not uncontrollable, a top health official who called for public co-operation to follow isolation requests and limit movements said as more areas in the densely populated capital Colombo were put under curfew overnight.

On October 23, 865 domestic patients and 01 foreign patient was confirmed taking the total in Sri Lanka to 7,153, the Health Ministry said.

On Saturday curfews were imposed on Gothatuwa and Mulleriyawa areas of the capital Colombo from 1900ours following overnight curfews in Dematagoda and Maradana and Kaluthara.

Sri Lanka’s Shangri-La and Colombo Hilton said one of their staffers had been confirmed with Coronavirus.

Barapathala Situation

“There is an increase in the numerical and geographical spread of patients,” Deputy Director-General of Health Hemantha Herath told reporters on October 23.

“As of today, the situation is not uncontrollable. But the people should take it into their minds that it is a serious (barapathala) situation.

“When we look at the rate of speed of the spread, if there is not sufficient co-operation from the people, there is a chance of the trend going towards an uncontrollable situation.

(Parleneryer kala nohaki thathwayakater yaamay pravanertharwayakerter – ehemath nethnam ei dheserter gaman kirimay hakiyarwak – thiyanawar.)

“At various levels we are doing PCR tests and tracing and quarantining. We are asking for maximum co-operation.”

Officials are urging people in all areas to stay at home as much as possible and limit movements and follow requests of health or other officials.

“In areas where no patients have been reported, or if you have not been identified as a close contact, you should still limit your movements to the maximum,” Herath said.

“Unless it is very essential do not go anywhere. Many people are co-operating but a one or two are enough to turn it upside down.”

Herath said if a young and active person moves around and contracts the disease and goes home, older persons are at risk.

On Saturday the second death was reported from the new cluster taking total deaths to 15.

In the current outbreak, which officials say is more contagious than earlier ones, many patients get mild or no symptoms making it less likely to be detected.

Home Quarantine Gap

Sri Lanka is sending large numbers of first or F1 contacts on home quarantine with pending PCR results- a wide gap from the strategy followed by countries like Vietnam where only f2 and f3 contacts are sent on home quarantine.

In Vietnam, a person who had been within 6 feet of a confirmed person or had 30 minutes or more contact is identified as an F1 contact.



If an F1 contact test positive, f2 contacts are quarantined in Vietnam, observers who are familiar with the practices of the country say.



Related

Vietnam Coronavirus research re-defines contact tracing strategy as Sri Lanka expands Covid-19 testing

What is contact tracing of Coronavirus

In the first wave of infections till April Vietnam quarantined over 40,000 persons in the space of a few weeks, converting large numbers of state buildings and university dormitories into quarantine centres.

Sri Lanka’s quarantine centres are becoming full, though the military has expanded facilities sharply since the new clusters developed.



Unlike in Vietnam Sri Lanka is sending close contacts home, pending results. The practice had been followed even before quarantine needs rose sharply.

Meanwhile, Herath said Sri Lanka had had a practice of keeping contacts in-home quarantine from the beginning.

“The contacts of persons detected in the community was subjected to home quarantine,” Perera told reporters.

“That was the practice that we practised. The majority of the practice they adhered to that.”

At the Brandix factory, officials spent several days trying to locate persons who had tested positive in the first sweep.

Quarantine vs Hospitals

Sending a contact home increases the chances of family members or roommates who are not already infected from getting infected which leads to more hospital space requirements.

While they wait at home, F1 contacts who are going through the incubation period can also develop the disease, after testing negative and infect other people increasing the need for hospitals.

Analysts say the decision to quarantine F1 contacts is a public policy choice involving building more quarantine facilities or hospital facilities.

Meanwhile, there are reports that contacts sent on home quarantine after testing have to wait for more than a day for results to come, increasing the chances of the disease being spread.

Hospitals are also filling up, though the first persons to enter hospitals have now started to be discharged after recovering.

There are 26 hospitals with wards for Covid-19 patient and 24 PCR testing centres, Palitha Kaunaperuma from the Health Promotion Bureau of Sri Lanka’s Health Ministry said.



About 8,000 to 9,000 tests are being done a day, he said.



“We are asking members of the public to voluntary follow movement restrictions and requests of health or other authorities,” Herath said.

“Do not wait for someone to come and guard you or do because you are told. To avoid a serious situation in the future, please do it voluntarily.”

Health officials have said the current strain of the virus is also more contagious raising questions whether the practise should be tightened.

However, authorities can get control by imposing lockdowns of a larger area or stopping travel between districts or divisional secretary areas.

This raises the question whether authorities should lock down any area where authorities are unable to quarantine F1 contacts and they are sent on home quarantine observers say.

Countries like Vietnam were able to avoid complete lockdowns because they were able to quarantine all F1 contacts, observers say.

In July when a cluster suddenly developed in Da Nang city, authorities cut-off the entire city and asked all people who had left the city to register with local authorities.

Vietnam also has an app, Bluezone where people can register.

On the night of October, 23 authorities imposed curfew in Maradana and Dematagoda.

Cross Cluster Infections

There are increasing concerns that clusters are cross infecting each other, where contact tracers can become rapidly overwhelmed or irrelevant.

Sri Lanka’s Chief Epidemiologist had said the Minuwangoda and Fish Market clusters may have had cross infections.

Related

Sri Lanka Coronavirus curfew in Colombo areas as cross-infections probed in fish market

In countries with community transmission, the distinction between clusters become blurred and eventually disappear.

Chief Medical Officer for Health of the Colombo Municipal Council Ruwan Wijayamuni said out of 488 contacts and random samples from Gunasinghepura area tested on October 21, 154 had tested positive on October 23.

He said it was a high yield.

“The reports came at 6.00 to 6.30 pm,” Wijayamuni told Sri Lanka’s Derana Television. “By 2.00 am with the help of the military, intelligence officer and health ministry instructions and the Epidemiological unit we hospitalized them.

“All their contacts have been listed for testing today in Modara. We hope to do 500 tests.”

Wijayamuni said from October 08 to October 23, 4,200 tests had been conducted in Colombo city.

“This was intensified in the last few days. From March to May were 134 infections. Then there were 61 infections from the Minuwangoda and Dockyard clusters when we got samples.

“In the past two days from the Peliyagoda fish market, 472 have been found. In the past four days, the number of patients has gone up five times.

“In Colombo city, we will do the tests of the contacts without any waiting list.”

Wijayamuni said they had difficulties in finding the positive tested persons on Friday night. They were on home quarantine.

“In all the houses of first contacts, we have placed a sticker saying it is a quarantined home. Then people can see this.”

We need the support of the public. When we tried to find the patients last night to put on the military buses, some people hid. So we have to find them. Then others hide them.

“People do not understand. So we need their support.”

It is not clear whether the 500 contacts tested on Saturday, who have now become F1 contacts of the previous day’s confirmed patients will also be sent on home quarantine until the results come. (Colombo/Oct23/2020-sb)

Sri Lanka confirms 201 Coronavirus patients, sudden death probed

ECONOMYNEXT – Sri Lanka has confirmed 201 new Coronavirus case on October 24, taking the total to 7,354, as more suburbs of the capital was put under quarantine curfew.

Of the total 140 were from Peliyagoda fish market, 24 were from fishery harbours and 37 were from quarantine centres.

Sri Lanka recorded the 15th confirmed death from Coronavirus on Saturday.

Authorities said they were also probing a person who died while waiting to take a Coronavirus test at the Kalpitiya hospital.

The 32 year old who was a resident of Kalpitiya had worked at a truck which transported fish from Kalpitiya to the fish market in Peliyagoda.

Rikillagaskade hospital was also closed after a doctor who is resident in Kelaniya had been confirmed with Covid-19. He had visited the Peliyagoda fishmarket.

Fish markets and weekly markets in several town including Trincomallee and Galle have been closed.

From 1900hours on Saturday curfew was imposed on Gothatuwa and Mulleriyawa suburbs of Sri Lanka’s capital Colombo. Several other areas which are close to the fish market in Peliyagoda was put under curfew a day earlier. (Colombo/Oct24/2020)

As of now...

Coronavirus Cases:
43,069,160

Deaths:
1,156,342

Recovered:
31,743,874

452,876 new cases world wide lower than previous day !

5,599 more deaths lower than previous 24 hours.

USA (79,449), India (50,224) & France (45,422) are the three countries with highest number of new cases that drives the new cases.

USA (784), India (575) & Mexico (418) were the countries with highest new deaths for last 24 hours.

As of now...

Coronavirus Cases:
43,346,888

Deaths:
1,159,097

Recovered:
31,905,975

404,793 new cases world wide lower than previous day.

4,498 more deaths lower than previous 24 hours.

USA (60,889), France (52,010) & India (45,158) are the three countries with highest number of new cases that drives the new cases.

India (463), USA (442) & Mexico (431) were the countries with highest new deaths for last 24 hours.

As of now...

Coronavirus Cases:
43,777,133

Deaths:
1,164,515

Recovered:
32,182,111

411,373 new cases world wide higher than previous day.

5,110 more deaths lower than previous 24 hours.

USA (69,841), India (36.838) & France (26,771) are the three countries with highest number of new cases that drives the new cases.

USA (529), India (505) & Argentina (405) were the countries with highest new deaths for last 24 hours.

Sri Lanka records 17th COVID-19 death as total cases reach 8,413

ECONOMYNEXT – The Sri Lanka National Operation Centre for Prevention of COVID-19 confirmed the 17th death from COVID-19 a short while ago.

NOCPOC issuing a statement said that the deceased was a 41-year-old male from Ja-Ela that was undergoing treatment in the National Institute of Infectious Diseases Hospital (IDH) hospital designated for COVID-19 treatment.

NOCPOC said the patient was admitted to IDH on October 24 and passed away around 1130 hours today (27).

Sri Lankan health officials identified 541 new COVID-19 patients over a 24-hour period that ended at 6am today.

With the new cases, total confirmed COVID-19 patients in the island has risen to 8,413. Some 527 individuals are currently under investigation in hospitals, with 4,464 active cases.

Hundred and thirty Sri Lankan patients returned home upon recovery as at 6am today bringing total recoveries in Sri Lanka to 3,933. All recovered patients are from the Minuwangoda cluster. (Colombo/Oct27/2020)

Direct asymptomatic COVID-19 patients to select hotels, quarantine centres, orders President

ECONOMYNEXT – President Gotabaya Rajapaksa has ordered health officials to direct asymptomatic COVID-19 patients to select locations such as hotels and quarantine centres in the future under expert supervision, co-cabinet spokesman Minister Dr Ramesh Pathirana said.

Speaking at this morning’s cabinet briefing, Pathirana said the president made the directive as the number of COVID-19 patients is reaching the initial capacity of 5,000 hospital beds.

Instructions have been issued to retain COVID-19 patients with complications in hospitals while directing asymptomatic patients, who amount to 75-80% of the total patient count, to non-hospital centres, he added.

Pathirna added that the decision was taken in accordance with the criteria formulated by the Government Medical Officers Association (GMOA) and other specialist doctors.

The announcement comes in the wake of a government decision yesterday to direct first contacts of confirmed patients to home quarantine as Sri Lanka’s military-run quarantine centres are reaching their full capacity.

The GMOA previously called for tiered treatment of patients where younger and mostly asymptomatic cases are kept at monitored treatment centres while older patients and those with underlying conditions are kept in hospital. (Colombo/Oct27/2020)

As of now..

Coronavirus Cases:
44,236,745

Deaths:
1,171,308

Recovered:
32,444,043

459,020 new cases world wide higher than previous day.

7,023 more deaths higher than previous 24 hours and exceeds 7,000 mark after in two months!

USA (75,072), India (42.965) & France (33,417) are the three countries with highest number of new cases that drives the new cases.

USA (1,039), Brazil (530) & France (523) were the countries with highest new deaths for last 24 hours.

As of now...

Coronavirus Cases:
44,774,241

Deaths:
1,179,224

Recovered:
32,727,138

504,419 new cases world wide higher than previous day and crossed 500,000 mark for the first time in the history!!

7,104 more deaths higher than previous 24 hours !

USA (81,581), India (49.912) & France (36,437) are the three countries with highest number of new cases that drives the new cases.

USA (1,030), Mexico (643) & India (509) were the countries with highest new deaths for last 24 hours.