Coronavirus victims now ten; Govt. calls for public support
Catholic Church cancels masses till end of this month
With ten Sri Lankans being affected by the new coronavirus up to last evening, many measures were implemented to meet the threat and mass gatherings were discouraged.
Health Services DirectorGeneral Dr. Anil Jasinghe gave details of those affected by the disease, as Health Minister Pavithra Wanniarachchi sought public support at a media briefing last afternoon, in curbing the virus which has been rampaging across the world.
Among the patients are eight males and two females, it is learnt, with seven at the National Institute of Infectious Diseases (NIID) and two at the Polonnaruwa and one at the Kurunegala Hospital.
Of the seven patients who were at the NIID last evening, the first is the 52-year-old tour guide. The others include the second guide who came into contact with the first patient in the dormitory of a hotel; three, including a female, who had returned from Italy and were being quarantined at the Kandakadu centre; one who had been travelling in Europe for two weeks and returned to the country; and a female relative of the second guide.
The other three patients affected by COVID-19 had also returned from Italy and were being quarantined at the Kandakadu centre.
When contacted by the Sunday Times, Consultant Physician Dr. Erang a Narangoda who is managing the NIID patients said that usually with COVID- 19, 80% of those affected would have mild disease, 15% moderate to severe disease and 5% life-threatening disease.
While the patients under his management are having “mild” disease, the first patient falls into the 15% grouping which is “moderate to severe”. He is having bi-lateral pneumonia which has an impact on his lungs. Even though the symptoms have improved since admission to hospital, his lung signs are not normal yet.
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He does not have much of an appetite and is on a liquid diet.
Dr. Narangoda said that even though there was much panic in a Colombo school about the first patient’s family being affected, so far they were not showing any symptoms. They are being quarantined at their home.
The Sunday Times understands that the first patient (tourist guide) had got symptoms of fever and cough when on one of his tours on
March 2 and sought treatment from a doctor. He had been popping the tablets given by that doctor until severe disease gripped him and he had been admitted to the NIID on March 8.
Meanwhile, the National Task Force set up under President Gotabaya Rajapaksa to battle the threat of COVID-19, will get a permanent office tomorrow. This Task Force brings together all stakeholders and all activities, announced Dr. Jasinghe, pointing out that it was not just a matter for the Health Ministry but many ministries and other institutions.
There are 103 suspected cases at several of the 18 designated hospitals, while there are 1,600-odd in quarantine centres, he said.
The government, meanwhile, stopped flights from South Korea, Italy and Iran from yesterday and will follow it up with a two-week ban on flights from France, Spain, Germany, Switzerland, Denmark, Netherlands, Sweden, Austria, Qatar and Bahrain as of today.
Dr. Jasinghe who strongly urged against mass gatherings, said a two-week period would help the country “cool down”, as there has been no ‘community transmission’ as of yet and that those affected by COVID-19 have had an “Italian connection”.
While Minister Wanniarachchi said that police will not grant permits for mass gatherings, responding to the government’s appeal, the Catholic Church in Sri Lanka decided yesterday to desist from holding
Sunday and daily masses with immediate effect until the end of March.
At a high-level meeting of the Task Force on Friday, presided over by President Rajapaksa and attended by Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa, Western Province Governor Dr. Seetha Arambepola and several other officials many measures had been discussed including disinfecting public transport and the use of internet for services and education.