7 new cases raise total COVID-19 patients to 185, 137 active  

• Sixth death occurred yesterday morning
• Four new recoveries, bringing total recoveries to 42
• 1,107 curfew violators arrested during 24-hour period ending at 6 a.m. yesterday
• Curfew in effect indefinitely in high-risk districts
• Curfew to be temporary lifted tomorrow in other areas

Seven new COVID-19 positive cases identified yesterday brought the total count in the country to 185, with 137 active cases currently receiving treatment. This includes 95 at the National Institute of Infectious Diseases (NIID), 27 at the Colombo East Base Hospital, and 10 at the Welikanda Base Hospital, yesterday’s situation report by the Epidemiology Unit showed.

The sixth COVID-19 death occurred yesterday morning. The Department of Government Information, in a statement issued yesterday, said that the individual was an 80-year-old male who was receiving treatment at the Infectious Diseases Hospital. He was a resident of Dehiwala.

The Epidemiology Unit report also shows four recoveries yesterday, bringing the total recoveries to 42. This includes four patients from the NIID and four from the Welikanda Base Hospital.

In addition to this, there were 255 suspected patients as of yesterday, including 43 at the Homagama Base Hospital, 24 at the Gampaha District General Hospital, and 24 at the Negombo District General Hospital.

The Colombo South Teaching Hospital was presented with a special disinfection chamber and 30 Personal Protection Equipment (PPE) kits by the Sri Lanka Armoured Corps (SLAC) yesterday morning.  

The Sri Lanka Army also said on their website that the SLAC troops donated an additional 14 PPE kits to the De Soyza Maternity Hospital the same morning.

In addition to the efforts of the health sector and the Sri Lanka Army, the Sri Lanka Police is ensuring the public is adhering to curfew regulations put in place in order to ensure social distancing.

According to the Police Media Unit, 1,107 arrests were made over curfew violations in the 24-hour period ending at 6 a.m. yesterday. In addition to this, 326 vehicles were detained. A significant drop in violators has not been seen in recent days, Police Media Unit said, and a total of 15,502 arrests have been made since curfew was imposed on 20 March.

While legal action will be taken against these persons, their vehicles may be detained for the duration of curfew. A total of 3,991 vehicles have been detained so far.

According to the Department of Government Information, curfew imposed on the high-risk areas of Colombo, Gampaha, Kalutara, Puttalam, Kandy, and Jaffna Districts will be in effect until further notice. Curfew in other districts will be lifted from 6 a.m. to 4 p.m. tomorrow.