Sri Lanka records highest single-day COVID-19 confirmations, deaths
COLOMBO –Sri Lanka on Wednesday (19) recorded 3,591 new cases of COVID-19 and 36 virus-related deaths, the highest single day confirmation of caseloads and fatalities so far, prompting the National Operations Centre for Prevention of COVID- 19 Outbreak (NOCPCO) to issue a notice urging those over 55 with breathing problems and suspected COVID-19 symptoms to seek immediate medical treatment.
Wednesday’s confirmation of 3,591 new cases, all linked to the New Year cluster, took Sri Lanka’s COVID-19 tally to 151,343 with 28,976 deemed active cases receiving treatment at various designated hospitals and hotels across the country. The 36 deaths reported from across the country; take the fatality count to 1051.
The Department of Government Information in a statement announcing the deaths identified deceased as 16 females and 20 males and attributed the main cause of death to be Covid-pneumonia.
Health authorities have been scrambling to build new health facilities while ratcheting up a vaccination drive, mainly using Sputnik vaccine from Russia and Sinopharm from China.
Meanwhile, the head of NOCPCO, General Shavendra Silva, in a statement issued by the Department of Government Information, urged those over the age of 55 experiencing any of the COVId-19 symptoms including breathing difficulties, to immediately get themselves admitted to a hospital or seek medical advice. No reason what given for the note, but Sri Lanka has seen a surge in daily cases over the past few weeks, forcing authorities to impose movement restrictions that amount to unofficial island-wide curfews with brief intervals.
In related developments, The Civil Aviation Authority of Sri Lanka (CAASL) on Wednesday announced the suspension of all passenger arrivals for 10 days effective 11.59 p.m. Friday (21).
Chairman of the CAASL Upul Dharmadasa was quoted in the local media as saying the decision to suspend arrivals had been taken in view of the existing coronavirus situation in Sri Lanka.
However, he has said passengers will be permitted to leave Sri Lanka during the 10-day period.
-ENCL