7 February 2020 12:04 am
Pics by Waruna Wanniarachchi
By Sandun A Jayasekera
While China struggles to prevent a further spread of the novel coronavirus epidemic and the number of related deaths in that country to the minimum possible, Sri Lanka has been successful to restrict the 2019n-COV infections to a single patient and pre-empt the disease in its tracks, Health Minister Pavithradevi Wanniaarachchi said yesterday.
However, we are extremely sorry and pray for China’s recovery from this calamity and also ready to extend our help in any way possible, she added. By yesterday death toll in mainland China stood at 563 and the number of confirmed infections at 28,018, with 3,859 severe cases.
In contrast, Sri Lanka had 16 men and women under medical observation. They were at National Hospital in Colombo -3, Kandy National Hospital – 2, Karapitiya Teaching Hospital – 1, Ragama Teaching Hospital – 2, Negombo Base Hospital – 1, Gampaha General Hospital – 1, Badulla General Hospital – 1, Teaching Hospital Kurunegala - 1 and Jaffna Teaching Hospital 1.
The Chinese woman (43) treated at the IDH, Angoda has fully recovered and remains in the hospital under medical observation.
“We have not imposed a travel ban on China but closely monitoring all air and sea travellers with special focus on tourists arriving from China,” Minister Wanniarachchi said and Chinese ambassador in Colombo also expressed gratitude for the stance taken by Sri Lanka on coronavirus epidemic. .