COLOMBO – Sri Lanka on Wednesday (28) recorded 1,451 new COVID-19 cases, the highest confirmations in a single day, as efforts were made to expand hospital and intensive care facilities in the country. Six new deaths were also reported on Wednesday, taking Sri Lanka’s Covid-fatality count to 661.
Over 500 cases a day have been confirmed over the last eight days peaking on Tuesday to over 1000, as public health inspectors raced after contacts of confirmed cases, which surged after a traditional New Year. According to Health Ministry data there are a total of 9,209 patients under treatment at the moment.
Over the past eight days 7,481 new cases had been confirmed including foreign returnees, straining health facilities.
Heath official said patients are developing pneumonia faster with a UK SARS-Cov-2 variant spreading in the country.
Chandima Jeewandara Director, Allergy Immunology and Cell Biology Unit, University of Sri Jayewardenepura, told reporters that gene sequencing of 43 samples collected in Colombo, Boralesgamuwa and Kurunegala showed almost all to be of the B.1.1.7 strain.
The strain was first detected in the community on April 8 this year, Jeewandara said.
It is not clear how the virus got into the country, but authorities recently relaxed repatriation rules allowing home quarantine for some categories including vaccinated arrivals.
Vaccinated individuals could still get infected though their symptoms may be milder.
One of the six COVID-related fatalities reported on Wednesday had died in Mawanella after ICU facilities dedicated for COVID-19 patients ran out. State Minister for Primary Health Care, Epidemics and COVID Disease Control, Sudarshini Fernandopulle, said more ICU beds were being made available for COVID-19 patients.
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