Warnings of subclusters emerging in Sri Lanka if movement not limited – Health Ministry

Colombo, November 27 (Daily Mirror) – Health authorities yesterday warned of new COVID-19 subclusters emerging across the country if public movement is not minimised from high-risk areas to low-risk areas, unless most essential.

Deputy Director-General of Public Health, Dr. Hemantha Herath told Daily Mirror that the country still faced a threat from the COVID-19 virus despite a decline in numbers in recent days outside Colombo, but the threat of new subclusters emerging remained till as long as people moved from the high-risk areas to low-risk areas.

“This is a problem. Our advice is that those who are in Colombo should stay in Colombo and those who are outside Colombo should refrain from entering Colombo as much as possible. Unless it is most essential,” Dr. Herath said.

“Even at this moment of time, we cannot say the threat is over. We are continuing all our controlling activities but at the same time people must contribute by limiting their movements and preventing any further clusters from forming,” he added.

In recent days, authorities have seen a decline in numbers emerging from the clusters reported out of Colombo, that is the Minuwangoda cluster and the Katunayake cluster. Dr. Herath said the Minuwangoda cluster had almost been deactivated while very few numbers were now being reported from the Katunayake cluster.

While the overall Peliyagoda cluster was also now under control, the spread from this cluster in Colombo, however, was continuing. Due to this, Western Province continued to be a hotbed for the virus and people were warned to remain cautious.

“On Wednesday we had over 500 cases. Unless the people reduce their movement and support to prevent the further spread of this virus, it will still drag on. The flatten level will continue, and we will not be able to bring an end to it,” Dr. Herath said.

“There are many people who are carrying out unnecessary movements. We need to help the authorities to stop this,” he added.

Till last evening, the Punani Treatment Centre had the highest number of patients followed by the Bingiriya Treatment Centre and the Kandakadu Treatment Centre.

Till last evening, there were over 5,800 active patients reported in the country. (Jamila Husain)