Sri Lanka records five more COVID-deaths, 592 new cases
Isolation status to continue in most parts of Colombo
COLOMBO – Sri Lanka recorded five more COVID-19 related fatalities on Sunday (20), as the death toll reached 176 and the novel coronavirus tally increased to 37,261 with 592 new cases confirmed during the course of the day.
The Department of Government Information in a statement announcing the deaths identified the deceased as four males and one female, all from the Western Province.
Of the four males, a 71-year-old from Panagoda had died of blood poisoning and COVID-pneumonia at the Base Hospital, Mulleriyawa, while a 52-year-old from Colombo 8 had died of COVID-pneumonia at his residence, and a 44-year-old from Colombo 2 had died of an acute lung infection caused by the COIVD-19 infection at the Chest Hospital, Welisara. The fourth male, a 49-year-old from Bandaragama had died on admission to Base Hospital, Horana, with the cause of death determined to be a chest infection caused by the COVID-19 virus.
The female, a 71- year-old from Colombo 12, a cancer patient diagnosed as being infected with COVID-19 virus and transferred from the General Hospital Colombo to Base Hospital, Pimbura, had died of blood poisoning due to COVID-19 infection.
The statement said Director General of Health Services, Dr. Asela Gunawardena, had confirmed the deaths to be COVID-19 related, taking the COVID fatality count to 176
One hundred and sixty three deaths have now been officially recorded since October 24, many of them at home and several on admission to hospitals, since 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, including a prison cluster, with the largest case load reported from the Peliyagoda fish market.
Sunday’s confirmations take Sri Lanka’s novel coronavirus count to 37,261, with 28,267 being deemed recovered and discharged under the new health ministry guidelines, and 8,818 receiving treatment at various designated hospitals across the country.
The Department of Government Information said all 592 cases confirmed on Sunday were linked to Peliyagoda/prison cluster, which has now expanded to 33,590 cases.
Meanwhile, the National Operations Centre for Prevention of COVID-19 Outbreak (NOCPCO), in an update on the removal, continuation and activations of the isolation status in the various districts, said the isolation status imposed on the police divisions of Salamulla Grama Niladhari Division in Wellampitiya and Kokila Road in Wellawatta, in the Colombo district, Naiduwa area in Kerawalapitiya Grama Niladhari Division of Wattala, Gangabada Grama Niladhari Division of Peliyagoda and Wilegoda North Grama Niladhari Division of Kiribathgoda in the Gampaha district, will be lifted effective 5:00 a.m. Monday (21).
Quoting Army Commander, Lt. Gen Shavendra Silva, who also heads the NOCPCO, it said the police divisions of Modara, Kotahena, Grandpass, Woulfendhal Street, Dam Street, Keselwatta, Maligawatta, Dematagoda, Maradana, Wekanda Grama Niladhari Division in Slave Island, Wanathamulla Grama Niladhari Division in Borella, Laksanda Sewana Housing Scheme in Wellampitiya, South of Ferguson Road in Mattakkuliya, Hunupitiya Grama Niladhari Division in Slave Island, 60- Watta in Kurunduwatta, Mayura Place in Wellawatta, Nazeerwatta in Wellawatta and Demalawatta in Mirihana in the Colombo District will continue to remain isolated until notice.
Update of removal, continuation and activation of isolation status
-ENCL