‘Sri Lanka successful in containing “COVID-19”

Only three people remain under observation

Sri Lanka for the time has successfully controlled COVID - 19, as the number of citizens under medical observation dropped to three, Epidemiologist of the Government Epideomology Unit (GEU) Dr. Samitha Guruge said yesterday.

Out of the three people suspected for contracting possible COVID - 19 infection, one foreigner was under observation at the District Hospital- Negombo while one Sri Lankan was admitted at the same hospital and the other was at the Badulla District Hospital, Dr. Guruge added.

“We cannot be complacent because there was no infection of Coronavirus after the Chinese woman who left the country after complete recovery while, Korea and Italy have become extremely vulnerable for coronavirus epidemic where a large Sri Lanka community lives. We have tightened vigilance at the BIA and the Colombo Port and all those arriving from Korea and Italy will be closely screened before permitting them to enter the country,” Dr. Ginige said.

Meanwhile, 2,626 people had died by noon yesterday (24) from the coronavirus or COVID19 outbreak in China and the number of cases confirmed with infections stood at 79, 231, it is reported. South Korea announced the identification of 231 new cases yesterday, with the nationwide total surging past 830. While, in Italy, cases increased from three to 152 over the weekend, the number spiking in the country’s North. Iran’s Health Ministry confirmed 43 cases of the virus, including eight deaths. Lebanon and Israel have also reported their first cases of COVID infections.