The 43-year-old female Chinese national who had been tested positive for the new coronavirus is still receiving treatment at the Infectious Diseases Hospital (IDH), Angoda, Chief Epidemiologist of the Epidemiology Unit, Dr. Sudath Samaraweera said.

Dr. Samaraweera said 16 other suspected individuals under surveillance had received their testing reports as negative to the new Coronavirus.

The female patient who is in her forties had arrived in Sri Lanka on January 19 as a tourist. “The first test on the patient was positive for the virus. We have sent a second sample to the Medical Research Institute at Borella for further examination. In the meantime, we will continue to treat her as a patient positive for the new coronavirus at the IDH,” Dr. Samaraweera said.

Eight individuals including four foreigners and four Sri Lankans are receiving treatments at the National Institute of Infectious Diseases (NIID)

The twelve hospitals identified as treatment centres for suspected persons are the NIID, Teaching Hospital Ragama, District General Hospital Gampaha, District General Hospital Negombo, National Hospital Kandy, Teaching Hospital Karapitiya, Teaching Hospital Anuradhapura, Teaching Hospital Jaffna, Teaching Hospital Kurunegala, Provincial General Hospital Ratnapura, Teaching Hospital Batticaloa and Provincial General Hospital Badulla.

Sri Lankan students who were in China and those who visited China due for other purposes and are returning to Sri Lanka, are advised to stay in their homes and have minimal contacts with others for 2 weeks from the date of arrival in Sri Lanka.

In the current Sri Lankan context, there is no scientific justification in wearing face masks by the general public including children. The Quarantine plan is in place and ready to be activated for students who will be returning to Sri Lanka from the Wuhan city, once permitted.

Dr. Samaraweera said the present Coronavirus situation in the country has not developed into an Epidemic situation and as such, people should not be in fear.

Meanwhile, the World Health Organisation (WHO) has declared the new Coronavirus outbreak as a Public Health Emergency of International Concern (PHEIC).

As of January 30, 2020, the New Coronavirus had been reported from 18 countries with 7,818 confirmed cases and 170 deaths. 82 confirmed cases outside China, with no deaths. India has reported its first confirmed case from Kerala, the Doctor said. (Chaturanga Samarawickrama)