Coronavirus curfew expanded in Colombo, Kalutara as COVID-19 cases hit 865 in a day
COLOMBO – A coronavirus curfew in Colombo was widened to cover Maradana and Dematagoda suburbs late Friday (23), as 865 new patients were confirmed as COVID-19 positive, the highest in a single day.
The Department of Government Information also announced that curfews had been imposed till 5:00 a.m. Monday (26) in Paiyagala, Beruwala and Aluthgama in the Kaluthara district, and that the villages of Gulawita North, Gulawita South, Wedawatte, Magurumaswila, Makalandawa in the Wallalawita divisional secretariat in Kaluthra have been placed under isolation.
Army Commander Lt. Gen Shavendra Silva, who also heads that anti-COVID-19 task force, asked persons who have visited the Peliyagoda fish market in recent days to be watchful and contact the nearest public health officer.
Of the 865 confirmed cases on Friday, 535 are from the Peliyagoda fish market and over 250 are contacts or are linked to the market. The government has maintained the fish market cluster is linked to the Minuwangoda cluster, which has now expanded to 3682.
Over 800 persons were quarantined and tested at the fish market earlier in the week. Subsequently several fishery harbhours and fish markets were closed after a number of fish traders who had visited the market were confirmed in several locations.
With the new cases, the total confirmed COVID-19 patients in the island rose to 7,153, with 3,495 active cases, 3,644 recovered and 14 fatalities.
Sri Lanka now has at least two large clusters involving the Brandix plant in Minuwangoda and the fish market in Peliyagoda. Officials have said there may be cross infections between the two clusters. Chief Epidemiologist Sudath Samaraweera said according to World Health Organization definition the island still had infections in clusters, and that it did not amount to community transmission. However, he warned there were risks of community transmissions.
Community transmission takes place when there are multiple unknown clusters interacting with each other and patients start turning up in various locations.
-ENCL/economynext.com