Sri Lanka :Ministry of Health said that 16 more people tested positive for COVID-19 on sunday taking the total number of confirmed cases in Sri Lanka to 863.
06 of these cases are personnel of the Sri Lanka Navy while the other two are passengers from Dubai who were undergoing quarantine.
At present there are 525 active cases in the island nation.
With 61 coronavirus positive patients recovered and discharged from hospitals, the total number of recovered patients in the country has risen to 321, today.
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According to the Ministry, this is the highest number of confirmed COVID-19 cases to recover in a single day.
There have been nine COVID-19 related deaths in the country.
Director General of Health Services Dr. Anil Jasinghe said easing social restrictions in the post COVID-19 era does not mean the end of the threat posed by the virus.
A total of 36,605 PCR Tests had been conducted in Sri Lanka so far by May 10th in order to detect COVID-19 infected persons. A total of 1282 PCR Tess done on May 10th and another 1424 PCR Tests done on May 9th, Jasinghe said.
According to Dr. Jasinghe, bringing COVID-19 is unrealistic at this moment due to non availability of a vaccine, a specific drug to treat, people’s movements around the world. What can be done and what required is controlling it without enabling it to become public health issue. Sri Lanka has done this successfully.
Dr. Jasinghe pointed out that it takes at least 14 days from the date of reporting the last COVID-19 patient from a specific area to declare the area as safe. Still there is one cluster (Navy) in Colombo district and some lock down areas.
It will take some more time to re-open Colombo and Gampaha districts. Hereafter decisions on COVID-19 are being made after considering several facts, especially the population density of the relevant area.
He said it could take a considerable period of time to completely wipe out COVID-19 from Sri Lanka adding measures taken under the Quarantine and Prevention of Diseases Ordinance will remain in place.
He stressed social distancing must be maintained at all times.
Dr. Anil Jasinghe said in the post COVID-19 era if a person develops a fever, cold and respiratory problems that person must seek assistance from 01 of the 30 hospitals with isolation areas set up across the country.
He said a person can call the emergency services on 1390 and obtain necessary assistance if symptoms of COVID-19 appear.
Sri Lanka curfew Notice
The curfew in Colombo and Gampaha districts will be in force until further notice, says the President’s Media Division (PMD).
In other 23 districts including Kalutara and Puttalam, the curfew will be effective between 8.00 pm and 5.00 am from May 11 until further notice.
However, the civilian life and functions of public and private sector entities in Colombo and Gampaha districts will resume from May 11, as planned.
Conditions included in previous announcements regarding the resumption of normal life will remain unchanged, the PMD said further.
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