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COVID-19 UK variant spreading countrywide
View(s):The UK variant of COVID-19 is taking a heavy toll in Medirigiriya, Galle, Hikkaduwa, Vavuniya, Kalutara and Kurunegala forcing the Government to adopt countrywide measures, according to Dr Chandima Jeewandara, Director of Operations and Clinical Services of the Allergy, Immunology & Cell Biology Unit of the University of Sri Jayewardenepura.
The UK variant (B1.1.7) of COVID-19, which has now been identified in the country, is 50 percent more transmissible and has a death rate of 55 percent more than the normal variant of the virus.
The Colombo, Gampaha and Kalutara districts are among the regions where high numbers of COVID-19 cases are being reported.
The biggest cause for concern, health officials found yesterday, are fears of a bed shortage in state hospitals. According to Health Services Deputy Director S.M. Arnold, the capacity in state hospitals is 12,789. However, the number of patients so far has reached 11,504, he said.
Notwithstanding his remarks, others in the health sector warned a crisis was still inevitable since the numbers were rising rapidly. This is confirmed by the incremental rise in daily figures since last Monday.
The Army is now manufacturing 10,000 beds urgently, Army Commander Shavendra Silva, head of the anti-COVID19 Task Force said. He added that they were now identifying new buildings, including hotels in Colombo, as an emergency measure. They would be converted to treatment centers, he said.
Earlier this week, the health authorities confirmed that the latest surge in COVID-19 infections was due to the B.1.1.7 variant of COVID-19, first detected in the UK. The variant was detected from samples collected in Colombo, Kurunegala and Boralesgamuwa. The new variant spreads faster and infects far more people, causes more severe symptoms and is also airborne, health officials warned. They warned that the virus was infecting younger people, with more patients requiring treatment in Intensive care units (ICUs).
A total of 1304 new COVID patients were detected as of 5 yesterday; the fifth straight day that the country recorded more than 1000 new infections.
Eleven COVID deaths were reported on Friday, taking the overall death toll to 678.
The gravity of the situation was underscored by a host of new restrictions imposed by the authorities yesterday. Army Commander Shavendra Silva announced that activities such as parties, social gatherings and other events at hotels, pubs and nightclubs were banned for two weeks from 10 pm yesterday. Weddings, public gatherings and other ceremonies too would be banned for two weeks from Tuesday (4).
The Health Ministry announced that cinema halls and children’s parks too would be closed until further notice.
Meanwhile, schools and Dhamma schools will remain closed until further notice.
Seven Grama Niladhari (GN) Divisions in four districts were added to the list of isolated areas yesterday. Accordingly, isolated from last morning were two GN Divisions in Colombo, two in Galle, two in Ampara and one in Ratnapura.
The Motor Traffic Department’s Narahenpita and Werahera offices will be closed for one week from tomorrow after several employees tested positive for COVID-19.
Police have also intensified operations against those flouting COVID prevention guidelines. Police inspected 2,881 institutions on Friday and found that 2,023 of them were not properly observing COVID prevention guidelines, Police spokesman Ajith Rohana stated. Legal action would be taken against these institutions, he added. Police yesterday also arrested 264 people for not wearing masks, making it the largest such number arrested in a single day so far.