COLOMBO – In a scenario where multiple COVID-19 deaths are becoming a daily occurrence, Sri Lanka recorded seven more COVID-19 related fatalities on Sunday (29), taking the country’s novel coronavirus death toll to 116. Two deaths were reported on Saturday (28,), eight on Friday (27) and three on Thursday (26). Sunday also recorded 496 new cases, taking the country’s COVID-19 tally to 23,484
The Department of Government Information in a statement announcing the multiple deaths identified the deceased as three females, one of them from Akuressa in the Southern Province, and four males.
Of the female deaths, a 50-year-old from Colombo 02, diagnosed as infected with COVID-19 virus had died at the Intensive Care Unit of the Mulleriyawa Base Hospital, of COVID- pneumonia and chronic lung disease. She had been initially admitted to the General Hospital and transferred to Mulleriyawa upon being diagnosed as having contracted the virus. A 51-year-old from Akuressa, also diagnosed as infected with COVID-19 virus had died at the Homagama Base Hospital of COVID-19 pneumonia and chronic kidney disease. She had been transferred to Homagama from the Karapitiya Teaching Hospital in Galle upon being diagnosed as COVID-19 positive. The third female, a 90-year-old from Colombo 13, transferred from the General Hospital Colombo had died at the Homagama Base Hospital of COVID- pneumonia.
Of the males, a 48-year -old from Gothatuwa had died at his residence and the cause of death had been determined to be COVID-pneumonia aggravated by chronic lung disease and diabetes, while a 73-year-old from Moratuwa, diagnosed as infected with the COVID-19 virus, had died while being treated at Homagama Base Hospital of COVID-related pneumonia. The third male, a 70-year-old from Chilaw had died at the Chilaw Base Hospital, with the cause of death determined to be diabetes, high blood pressure and a COVID-related stroke, while the fourth, a 78-year-old from Maradana had died on admission to the General Hospital Colombo. The cause of death had been determined to be lung dysfunction due to COVID- 19 infection.
The statement said Director General of Health Services, Dr. Asela Gunawardena, had confirmed all seven deaths to be COVID-19 related, taking the COVID fatality count to 116,
One hundred and three deaths have now been officially recorded since October 24, following the emergence of a new and more virulent strain of the virus in a new cluster in Minuwangoda, with the apparel factory in the area as the epicentre earlier in the month. Since then the cluster has seen sub-clusters in several parts of the country, with the largest case load reported from the Peliyagoda fish market. As of Sunday, the Minuwangoda/Peliyagoda cluster had recorded 19,946 cases with 496 testing positive for the virus during the course of the day.
According to the Department of Government Information daily update, all the case confirmed Sunday are persons linked to the Peliyagoda cluster and take Sri Lanka’s novel coronavirus count to 23,484, with 17,002 being deemed recovered and discharged under the new health ministry guidelines and 6,366 receiving treatment at various designated hospitals across the country.
Meanwhile, the National Operations Centre for the Prevention of COVID-19 Outbreak (NOCPCO) announced that the isolation order placed on the Police Divisions of Mattakkuliya, Fore Shore and Pettah would be removed effective 5:00 a.m. Monday (30), though other parts of Colombo already under isolation would continue to remain so until further notice. These include the Police Division of Modara, Bloemendhal, Kotahena, Grandpass, Wolfendhal Street, Dam Street Police, Keselwatta, Maligawatta, Dematagoda, Maradana, Wekanda Grama Niladhari Division of Slave Island and Wanathamulla Grama Niladhari Division of Borella.
NOCPCO, quoting its head, Army Commander Lt. General Shavendra Silva, said several new areas would be designated as isolated areas from 5:00 a.m. Monday. These include Randiya Uyana Housing Scheme and the South of Ferguson Road in the Mattakkuliya Police Divisio; Laksanda Sevana Housing Scheme, Salamul Grama Niladhari Division and Wijayapura Grama Niladhari Division in the Wellampitiya Police Division.
In the Gampaha district, NOCPCO announced the isolation order would be lifted in Negombo and Ragama, but would continue until further notice in Wattala, Peliyagota and Kelaniya.
-ENCL