Measures taken to prevent spread of Delta variant; 2,349 COVID-19 patients detected

• 3 of 5 persons with Delta variant have recovered: DGHS
• Country’s total patient count rises to 235,413
• 35,729 persons under medical care, recoveries rise to 197,940
• Only 20,211 PCR tests carried out yesterday

By Shailendree Wickrama Adittiya-Saturday, 19 June 2021

Following discussions with relevant officials, the Health Ministry yesterday made three key decisions in order to prevent the spread of the Delta variant of the COVID-19 virus in the country, a day after the B.1.617.2 variant was confirmed to have been detected in five samples from Dematagoda.

According to the Health Ministry, the decisions include isolating the area and testing samples collected from the area for the Delta variant, tracing and testing all contacts of patients, and carrying out special tests to detect the Delta variant in other areas of the island with high patient detections.

According to Director General of Health Services Dr. Asela Gunawardena, three of the five patients with the Delta variant have recovered from the virus and the remaining patients are at a treatment centre.

Colombo Municipal Council Chief Medical Officer Dr. Ruwan Wijayamuni said that none of the persons who contracted the variant were vaccinated against COVID-19.

Meanwhile, Pharmaceutical Production, Supply and Regulation State Minister Prof. Channa Jayasumana said: “The State Intelligence Service and Epidemiology Unit is working together to identify first, second and third-tier contacts of the patients. Samples collected so far of first and second contacts have not tested positive and the Delta variant has not yet been detected in them.”At present, the Alpha variant continues to be the dominant variant during the third wave and over 139,000 COVID-19 patients have been detected since the Sinhala and Tamil New Year on 14 April and over 227,000 patients have been detected since October 2020.

According to health officials, 2,349 persons tested positive for COVID-19 yesterday, bringing the cumulative patient count of the Divulapitiya, Peliyagoda, Prisons and New Year clusters to 228,401.

This includes 133,463 patients from the New Year cluster, 82,785 patients from the Peliyagoda cluster, 6,767 patients from the Prisons cluster, and 3,059 patients from the Divulapitiya cluster.

The patient count takes into account the 2,372 COVID-19 patients detected on Thursday, of which 2,327 were from the New Year cluster, 20 were from the Prisons cluster, and 11 were Sri Lankan returnees from abroad.

Of the patients detected on Thursday, 562 persons were from Colombo, 455 persons were from Gampaha, 234 persons were from Kurunegala, 217 persons were from Ratnapura, and 188 persons were from Kalutara.

Since the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic, 57,441 persons from Colombo, 40,298 persons from Gampaha, 25,663 persons from Kalutara, 12,389 persons from Kandy, and 12,320 persons from Kurunegala have contracted the virus. This includes 65,513 patients detected from the Western Province during the third wave alone.

In addition to the local cases, 4,748 Sri Lankan returnees from abroad and 328 foreigners have also tested positive for COVID-19 to date. The country’s total patient count currently stands at 235,413.

At present, 35,729 persons are under medical care and 1,557 persons suspected of having COVID-19 are under observation.

The Epidemiology Unit adds that hospitals discharged 1,825 persons yesterday, bringing the country’s COVID-19 recoveries to 197,259.

Despite the spread of the Alpha variant and the detection of the Delta variant in community samples, Sri Lanka’s daily PCR testing has remained below 25,000 since 21 May. According to the Health Promotion Bureau, only 20,211 PCR tests were performed yesterday.