Global COVID-19 patterns emerge in Sri Lanka

COLOMBO (News 1st): When taking into consideration the global outbreak of the Corona Virus, the role of "patient 31" in South Korea is seen as a decisive factor that aggravated the spread of the disease in the country. The number of positive infections in the country increased by over 1000 new cases after patient 31 had participated in a mass over the course of 2 days. This patient had transmitted the disease to over 60% of the infected patients in South Korea. The fact that many similar incidents had taken place in Sri Lanka too should be taken into account. A pilot of SriLankan Airlines had attended an annual inter-school big match, which was attended by a massive crowd, an Indian national who was affected with the virus admitting himself to an ordinary ward at the national hospital, a person who tested positive for the virus admitting himself to the Colombo North Teaching Hospital while concealing the true facts about his circumstances, are among them. Also similar to the mass that was held in South Korea, a foreign priest held a mass in Ariyale, Jaffna. Another such incident was reported yesterday when a person who tested positive for the virus was maintaining connections with about 26 people in Atalugama, Bandaragama. The first 10 patients who tested positive for COVID-19 were all tour guides and had travelled across many districts in the country. Meanwhile, another patient who was admitted to the Institute of Infectious Diseases had previously sought treatment at the Sri Jayawardenapura Hospital and another private hospital while concealing the fact that his family members had recently arrived in the island. Doctors state that the first patient from the Central Province who was diagnosed today had evaded the mandatory quarantine procedure for individuals arriving from overseas in the country.