13 November 2020 05:18 pm
Reporting of Covid-19 cases outside the Western Province remained at a lower rate, Chief Epidemiologist Dr. Sudath Samaraweera said today.
Addressing the media, he said although there was a decline in cases being reported outside the Western Province, a considerable number of cases were reported within the Western Province, especially from the Colombo municipality.
“Out of the 396 positive cases reported on Thursday (12), majority cases of 296 were reported from the Western province among which 232 cases were from the Colombo municipality.
“However, we are of the belief that the Covid-19 cases within the Western Province will be reduced with the restrictions imposed on several areas and the amount of PCR tests conducted in the province,” he said.
He underlined that one of the most pivotal factors to contain the virus was to refrain from maintaining face to face contacts between people.
Meanwhile, commenting on the Deepavali festival, which is to be celebrated tomorrow, Dr Samraweera said Hindu people should make sure that they would not assemble in one place to celebrate the festival and added if they do so, that would amplify the risk of spreading the virus.
“The Hindus are kindly requested not to venture outside to celebrate the festival but to limit the celebrations to their homes as we celebrated the Sinhala Tamil New Year,” he added.(Sheain Fernandopulle)