‘Country touches high-risk margin’

Virus spread to community with no links to previous clusters 

• Epidemiology Unit says the virus is still not emerging from the community 
• Now it has got past level 5 and has reached 5.5; which is higher in risk
• The country had failed to curb the spreading of virus to other provinces from Western Province

By Chaturanga Samarawickrama   

The country has exceeded the risk level of COVID-19 positive patients rate, as per the World Health Organisation (WHO) analysis, the Government Medical Officers’ Association (GMOA) said.   GMOA Editor Dr. Haritha Aluthge said the COVID-19 positive rate has exceeded the 5.5 margin.    

“The positive rate was at level 3.0 a month before. Then the rate increased to level 4. Now it has got past level 5 and has reached 5.5; which is higher in risk,” he said.   

However, the Epidemiology Unit says the virus is still not emerging from the community and claimed all the patients who had recovered were related to the Minuwangoda and Peliyagoda clusters.The reports emerging from the ground level notes that the recent infections have no links to the above two clusters,” he said.   
Unfortunately, the country had failed to curb the spreading of virus to other provinces from Western Province.Therefore, more sub-clusters had begun to emerge in various parts of the country now, he said.   
“In the country recently, a large number of COVID-19 positive patients have been found and more than 100 patients have been recorded from other provinces such as Southern and Central,” he said.   
“Whatever the Epidemiology Unit says as per the records in its hand, the COVID-19 virus has spread to the community and it has been proven from the ground level inspections,” Dr. Aluthge said.   
Thus, the country is heading towards a more precarious and highly dangerous situation, he added.

• Whatever the Epidemiology Unit says as per the records in its hand, the COVID-19 virus has spread to the community and it has been proven from the ground level inspections
• Reports emerging from the ground level notes that the recent infections have no links to the Minuwangoda/ Peliyagoda clusters

COVID-19  Situation could worsen by mid Feb; cautions GMOA 

• More than 700 cases are being reported everyday following the PCR tests that are conducted 
• The most difficult aspect is to figure out the associates of the positive cases

By Chaturanga Samarawickrama   

Considering the current pandemic situation which the country is faced with, the Government Medical Officers’ Association (GMOA) today warned that the situation could turn serious by middle of next month.  
GMOA Editor Dr. Haritha Aluthge said the emergence of increased number of COVID-19 positive cases were most likely from many districts by mid February.   

He said there was a sharp decline in COVID-19 positive cases in the Western Province, but unfortunately the risk had moved to other districts.  “The number of COVID-19 patients reported from other provinces on daily basis has increased by about 35%, compared to the Western Province.   

“More than 700 cases are being reported everyday following the PCR tests that are conducted. 

The most difficult aspect is to figure out the associates of the positive cases,” he said.  Therefore, it is imperative to bring the COVID-19 vaccine as early as possible, Dr. Aluthge stressed.