Health authorities detect another case of Delta COVID-19 strain in community
COLOMBO – Sri Lanka’s health authorities have detected another case of the highly transmissible Delta variant of COVID-19, this time in Kahathuduwa, Colombo, with the patient identified as a 47-year-old male.
Officials said the area has been isolated and around 50 families have been directed to home quarantine, with over 100 PCR tests to be conducted during the course of the day.
Kahathuduwa Medical Officer of Health (MOH), Dr. Dhanuka Padmaraj, said the patient is a stonemason working for a leading construction company in Sri Lanka and that he is suspected to have contacted the virus at the worksite.
“We have been advised to conduct more than 100 random PCR tests in the area by the epidemiology unit,” Padmaraj told reporters, adding their main focus remains on not letting the virus spread from the area,
With the Kahathuduwa patient, Sri Lanka as of Monday (28), has detected six cases of the delta, or B.1.617.2 strain, in the community. Another suspected case in Madiwela, Colombo, that was reported last week is yet to be confirmed.
Deputy Director of Health Services, Dr. Hemantha Herath, said no information regarding the Madiwela case has been communicated to him yet.
On Sunday (27), health authorities confirmed 1,867 new COVID-19 cases, including 100 returnees from abroad, taking Sri Lanka’s virus toll to 253,617, with 31,676 active cases. Sri Lanka also reported 39 deaths taking the COVID-fatality count to 2,944.
Since lifting the curfew-style lockdown on June 21, health authorities have isolated 71 subareas and Grama Niladhari divisions in the country while 356 subareas and GN divisions in nine police areas have been released from previously imposed isolation.
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