939 COVID-19 patients reported from Colombo in past nine days

• from October 8, within a week, 62 cases in Colombo were detected from the Minuwangoda cluster

By JAMILA HUSAIN  

Since the Peliyagoda fish market cluster was detected nine days ago and out of 5,340 PCR tests conducted, 939 positive COVID-19 patients have been found from Colombo including from the Peliyagoda fish market, Chief Medical Officer of Health, of the Colombo Municipal Council, Dr. Ruwan Wijayamuni told Daily Mirror yesterday.   

Dr. Wijayamuni said that from October 8, within a week, 62 cases in Colombo were detected from the Minuwangoda cluster and the Dockyard cluster which included 20 patients testing positive and the remaining 42 patients being the first contacts who tested positive after PCR tests were conducted.   

Then since the Peliyagoda fish market cluster came to light, 337 patients which included the market vendors, stall owners and helpers were detected with the virus after which vigorous contact tracing began and PCR tests were conducted on the first line contacts within hours. Out of these tests conducted till yesterday, a further 602 patients tested positive, totalling to 939 patients being detected from Colombo within the past nine days.   
“Once a patient was reported, we actively rushed into the area and identified his or her first line contacts through the vigorous contact tracing which was carried out and did PCR testing on them within 24 hours. If we had not done that these patients, a majority who carry no symptoms would have still been in society not knowing that they are carriers of the virus and spreading it,” Dr. Wijayamuni said.   

“We have a proactive strategy ongoing and it is through this strategy that we can prevent a further spread,” he added. Sri Lanka’s total COVID-19 patients surpassed the 8,700 mark till last evening while the death toll climbed to 19 after three deaths were reported yesterday.