COVID positivity rates Four fold spike in Colombo

• 18 patients were identified after PCR tests were conducted last Friday (16) out of 225
• 17 out of the 18 patients found yesterday from Colombo were believed to have come to the city from the suburbs

By Chaturanga Samarawickrama  

The CMC identified only one or  two COVID positive patients through 100 PCR tests conducted before the New Year. However,  the number of positive cases has increased to eight in 100 PCR tests conducted, Chief Medical Officer Colombo Municipal Council (CMC) Dr. Ruwan Wijeyamuni said. 

Addressing the media he said that random PCR tests conducted last Thursday (15) resulted in identifying 10 COVID-19 patients while 18 patients were identified after PCR tests were conducted last Friday (16) out of 225 individuals, Dr. Wijeyamuni said. 

“Though the current situation seems not that precarious, the 2% COVID patients identified earlier has now increased to 8%,” he said.   The recent careless behaviour of the people during the Sinhala/Hindu New Year had led to the escalation, he said.   

Meanwhile, 17 out of the 18 patients found yesterday from Colombo were believed to have come to the city from the suburbs or from elsewhere, Dr. Wijeyamuni said.   
“Therefore, the CMC has decided to increase the frequency of PCR tests conducted in Colombo,” he said.   

While denying media reports circulated especially on social media about the spread of a new mutant virus variant of COVID in Colombo, 
Dr. Wijeyamuni said there was no such virus variant that had entered the City of Colombo.   He said the ‘double mutant’ Covid variant which was found in India hadn’t been detected in the Colombo City as yet.       

• Therefore, the CMC has decided to increase the frequency of PCR tests conducted in Colombo