COVID-19 infections 200 Lankans, 15 foreigners under observation at several hospitals

By Sandun A. Jayasekera   

 A total of 200 Sri Lankans and 15 foreign nationals were under medical observation for possible infection at various hospitals in the country.   

71 Sri Lankans and one foreigner at the National Institute of Infectious Diseases, Angoda, 19 Sri Lankans each at National Hospital, Sri Lanka and four foreigners and 19 Sri Lankans at the District Hospital, Polonnaruwa, 15 Sri Lankans and six foreigners at the District Hospital, Negombo and two foreign and 15 Sri Lankans at Karapitiya Teaching Hospital in Galle, fourteen Sri Lankans at District Hospital Gampaha and 13 Sri Lankans at Teaching Hospital, Kurunegala, twelve Sri Lankans at the Teaching Hospital, Ratnapura, six Sri Lankans each at Teaching Hospital, Anuradhapura and Teaching Hospital, Ragama, Four Sri Lankans and two foreign nationals at National Hospital Kandy, two Sri Lankans each at Badulla District Hospital and Lady Ridgeway Hospital, Borella and one each at the Teaching Hospital Batticaloa and Teaching Hospital, Jaffna.   

In the global scene, there were 182,864 laboratory confirmed cases of COVID-19 infections by late afternoon yesterday with 7,174 deaths in 162 countries.   
In mainland China had 21 new confirmed cases of coronavirus infections by yesterday bringing the total number of confirmed cases in China so far to 81,077.   
The death toll from the outbreak in China had reached 3,226 as of yesterday, up by 13 from the previous day.   
In the central province of Hubei, the epicentre of the outbreak, there were 12 new deaths, with the provincial capital of Wuhan accounting for 11 of the fatalities.   
The number of imported cases of the virus in mainland China reached 143 as of Monday, up 20 from a day earlier, according to agency reports.   

Meanwhile, the national carrier, Sri Lankan Airlines yesterday clarifying on certain media reports that a SriLankan Airlines First Officer had been tested positive for coronavirus, said the First Officer concerned had operated his last layover flight to Singapore on February 28, and thereafter all the flights he operated had been turnaround flights.   

“Upon learning his medical condition, all crew members who had come in contact with him during the last 14 days have been put under self-quarantine with immediate effect. The Airline’s Group Medical Officer is closely inspecting the situation along with the government health authorities,” the SriLankan said.   

 He has been at Simulator Training during the weekend (March 14,15) and the instructors and the other crew members have been informed of the situation accordingly. The simulator is currently under lock down until due disinfection process is carried out and cleared for training.   

 SriLankan Airlines confirms that it has taken all precautionary measures to ensure the safety of its workforce which is vital in fulfilling its priority of providing comfort, care and safety to its valued passengers, the statement further added.   

215 Under medical observation

71 Sri Lankans and one foreigner at the National Institute of Infectious Diseases (IDH), Angoda,   
19 Sri Lankans at National Hospital, Sri Lanka   
4 foreigners and 19 Sri Lankans at the District Hospital, Polonnaruwa  
15 Sri Lankans and six foreigners at the District Hospital, Negombo   
 2 foreigners and 15 Sri Lankans at Karapitiya Teaching Hospital in Galle  
14 Sri Lankans at District Hospital Gampaha   
 13 Sri Lankans at Teaching Hospital, Kurunegala  
12 Sri Lankans at the Teaching Hospital, Ratnapura   
6 Sri Lankans each at Teaching Hospital, Anuradhapura and teaching Hospital, Ragama  
4 Sri Lankans and two foreign nationals at National Hospital Kandy  
2 Sri Lankans each at Badulla District Hospital and Lady Ridgeway Hospital, Borella   
One each at the Teaching Hospital Batticaloa and Teaching Hospital, Jaffna.