Health authorities are awaiting the medical test results of three patients for suspected COVID-19 infections. The three patients, two foreign nationals and a local are currently isolated and being treated at the Infectious Diseases Hospital (IDH) in Angoda.
Chief Epidemiologist Dr. Sudath Samaraweera said around 200 patients were admitted to hospitals around the country, suspected of contracting the COVID-19 (previously known as novel coronavirus [2019-nCoV]) since the outbreak.
“But only three of them remain now. Of the 200 patients many did not fit into the criteria of coronavirus. They had only a fear of having contracted the disease,” Dr. Samaraweera said.
The sole COVID-19 patient that Sri Lanka had, a Chinese tourist, has now recovered, and is under observation at the IDH.
Meanwhile, the group that returned from the virus’ outbreak epicentre Wuhan in China, has returned to their residences.
A special event was organised at the Army Headquarters in Akuregoda on Friday (14) under the patronage of the Commander of Sri Lanka Army and Chief of Staff of the Sri Lankan Army Lieutenant General Shavendra Silva to mark the event. Dr. Samaraweera said none of the 33 returnees kept under close observation at the Army Academy in Diyatalawa, showed symptoms of the virus, and therefore do not pose a threat to others.
A spokesman for the World Health Organization said there are over 63,000 cases of COVID-19 across the globe and 1,383 deaths.
-BBC