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Virus risk rising in Jaffna, while residents await relief
Three more people in Jaffna were confirmed with the new coronavirus disease this week, taking the count to seven in the north and security has been strengthened around locked-down villages to enforce what is being called a quarantine curfew.
Youth groups and locals have gathered in remote areas violating curfew regulations, engaging in various recreational activities. Many have ben arrested and others severely warned by the police and the military.
The Jaffna District Secretary, Kanapathipillai Mahesan, told The Sunday Times that among those curfew violators are some who have been given passes, but who misused them.
“We have issued curfew passes for those in agriculture, fishing, and other essential services but later we found that some of them are misusing it. We urge them not to do so for the sake of the safety of everyone,” District Secretary Mahesan said while emphasizing that everyone must act responsibly during a pandemic.
From this week onwards, the Jaffna Teaching Hospital began laboratory testing of Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) to identify coronavirus patients in the region at the Medical Faculty laboratory of University of Jaffna. Until to now, specimen samples of suspected cases had been sent to the laboratory of Anuradhapura General hospital and results would take days.
“With the setting up of a PCR testing laboratory, we would be able to test more suspected cases and get reports quickly and do contact tracing immediately rather than waiting for test results in days,” Dr T. Sathiyamoorthi, director of Jaffna Teaching Hospital told the Sunday Times stressing some 18 patients were to be tested yesterday.
Seven people who joined in the prayers at a Missionary Church in Jaffna or came into close contact with the Switzerland based Tamil pastor have been diagnosed with the coronavirus in the north. Some 274 families are isolated in homes and military run quarantine centres after provincial health authorities carried out contact tracing once a suspected case tested positive.
The Tamil pastor arrived in the country on March 11 with mild fever and went to Jaffna in a private vehicle arranged from the airport. In Jaffna, he took part in many social engagements including a ceremony of laying the foundation for a Montessori school before conducting prayers at the Philadelphia Missionary Church in Jaffna on March 15 with more than 200 devotees.
The 61-year-old pastor, who is also a diabetic, was hospitalised with coronavirus symptoms shortly after he returned to Switzerland. He tested positive for the coronavirus on Monday and was discharged this week from a Zurich hospital.
While people are asked to stay indoors, those who are in locked down villages and other identified risk areas, allege that there is a delay in obtaining government dry rations and other allowances. Many of them said they have received little help from Non Governmental Organizations (NGOs) and private donors.
Anthonipillai Jepanesan, chairman of Valikamam-South West Pradeshiya Sabha of Manipay in Jaffna told the Sunday Times that 33 people from eight families are under self quarantine, but have not got any government relief. “Last week, the army issued three kilos of wheat flour per person donated by Prima Ceylon Company in the area. Other than that, nothing.”
Acknowledging practical delays in distribution of essentials with limited resources, District Secretary Mahesan, said the office nearly completed issuing Rs 5,000 worth relief for Samurdhi beneficiaries as well as other dry rations. “We are coordinating with the Grama Niladhari and Divisional Secretariat officials at the grassroots to give relief.’’