Quarantine curfew expanded in Colombo and Kalutara districts
As Sri Lanka reports 457 new coronavirus cases, first sudden deaths
COLOMBO – Several more police jurisdictions outside Colombo came under quarantine curfew Tuesday (27) as the day’s novel coronavirus count crossed the 450 mark once again and the country recorded multiple deaths, two of them deemed sudden, for the first time.
The National Operation Centre for Prevention of COVID-19 Outbreak (NOCPCO) announced indefinite curfew with immediate effect in the police jurisdictions of Homagama, Moratuwa, and Panadura North and South following the detection of COVID-19 positive cases in the areas earlier Tuesday.
A total of 67 police jurisdictions in the country, including most areas of Colombo, are now under quarantine curfew. Several areas across the country have also been placed on isolation.
Meanwhile, the Government Information Department in its daily COVID-19 update, said 457 new cases were recorded up to 9:45 p.m. Tuesday, taking the country’s novel coronavirus tally to 8,870 and expanding the Minuwangoda cluster to 5,396.
All but 10 of Tuesday’s COVID 19 confirmations are directly linked to the Peliyagoda fish market cluster deemed a sub-cluster of Minuwangoda. The 10 outside the fish market are from quarantine centres.
The Ministry of Health said 110 individuals, deemed to have completely recovered were discharged from medical care on Tuesday, taking the country recovery tall to 4,043.
With Tuesday’s confirmed cases, Sri Lanka has 4,808 actives cases being treated in hospitals and has recorded 19 fatalities..
The deaths of a 19-year old special needs teenager and an 87-year -old woman recorded on Tuesday, have been recorded ‘sudden deaths’ according to Dr. Jayaruwan Bandara, spokesman, Ministry of Health.
Addressing the media on Tuesday, he said the deceased were confirmed as COVID-19 positive after samples were tested. Noting that over the last few days six deaths has been reported, he said, “This is a dangerous situation, so always work keeping in mind that there is danger ahead.”
Later in the day, Secretary to the Ministry of Health announced that the Judicial Medical Officer (JMO) had conducted PCR tests on the two patients who had died by the time they were admitted to the Colombo National Hospital and the results of the investigations had confirmed the two deceased were infected with COVID-19 virus. In a statement issued by the Department of Government Information, it said both patients had been suffering from chronic diseases.
Separately, the NOCPCO announced essential food outlets and pharmacies will remain open two days a week from 8:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m. in the police jurisdictions where quarantine curfew has been imposed. The two days are Monday and Thursday for Gampaha district; Tuesday and Friday for Colombo district; Monday and Thursday for Kalutara district and Tuesday and Friday for Kurunegala district.
-ENCL