Health officials acknowledge, newest Covid patient ‘emerged from community’
COLOMBO – Sri Lanka on Sunday (4) confirmed the newest COVID-19 patient identified Saturday (3) night “has emerged from the community” and issued warnings to the public to strictly observe guidelines as the government ordered all schools in the country closed from Monday (5).
Universities and other tertiary educational institutions in the Gampaha area, where the patient was found, including the Kelaniya University, the Yakkala Ayurveda Institute and the Naiwala Technological Institute have also been closed, officials said.
Family visits to Mahara and Negombo Prisons have also been suspended.
Saturday’s COVID-19 confirmation is the first community infection reported in Sri Lanka after two months, the Chief Epidemiologist, Dr Sudath Samaraweera, said in an audio recording released to the media on Sunday.
“It is very important for us to trace this patient’s contacts and take necessary action,” he said.
Health Minister Pavithra Wanniarachchi told reporters Sunday that although the country had controlled the pandemic well, another case has emerged.
“There is only one case like this at present however we have been successful at controlling because we have been following the guidelines given to us by the Ministry of Health,” she said.
Army Commander Lt Gen Shavendra Silva however had a harsher message and accused the public of not following the guidelines, saying they “seem to have forgotten that we still have Covid.”
Health Minister Wanniarachchi urged the public to avoid “crowded places where there is a crush of people such as musical shows, parties and other events.”
“This is an infection that can be contracted even by breathing next to each other,” she said, urging, “Please wear your masks and practice social distancing which is staying one-metre away from one another.”
Samaraweera said observing the guidelines would prevent community spread and help the country regain control of the disease. “Any place, be it a school or place of worship, the temperature of individuals must be checked and cleanliness observed,” he reiterated.
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