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Saturday Dec 28, 2024
Saturday, 13 February 2021 00:30 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}
By Shailendree Wickrama Adittiya
A total of 940 persons yesterday tested positive for COVID-19, bringing the total number of patients detected in the island to 74,056.
Patients detected yesterday include 932 associates of the Peliyagoda COVID-19 cluster and four persons linked to the prisons cluster. The triple clusters that emerged from Divulapitiya, Peliyagoda and prisons have thus expanded to 70,030 patients.
The total patient count also includes 1,958 Sri Lankan returnees from abroad, 950 Navy personnel and their contacts, 651 persons linked to the Kandakadu cluster, and 150 foreigners.
According to the Epidemiology Unit, 25,866 persons from Colombo District, 14,749 persons from Gampaha District, 5,059 persons from Kalutara District, 3,001 persons from Kandy District, and 1,735 persons from Galle District have tested positive for COVID-19.
This includes the 942 persons who tested positive for COVID-19 on Thursday, of which 273 were detected from Colombo, 181 were detected from Gampaha, 102 were detected from Kandy, 84 were detected from Matara, and 80 were detected from Kalutara.
The patients detected from Colombo include 31 persons from Colombo 2, 26 persons from Egoda Uyana, and 23 persons from Colombo 8.
Of the total patients detected in the island, 6,693 persons are currently under medical care. This includes 366 persons at the Giriulla Treatment Centre, 337 persons at the Bingiriya Treatment Centre, and 288 persons at the Kahawatta Treatment Centre.
Hospitals are also monitoring 639 persons suspected of having COVID-19.
According to the Epidemiology Unit, 66,984 persons have recovered from COVID-19 to date. Among persons discharged from hospitals yesterday are 73 persons from the Giriulla Treatment Centre, 49 persons from the Hambantota District General Hospital, 46 persons from the Punani Treatment Centre, and 46 persons from the Dambadeniya Treatment Centre.
In terms of testing, the Health Promotion Bureau states that 15,543 PCR tests were performed on Thursday.
With the Sri Jayewardenepura University stating that the B.1.1.7 UK lineage of the coronavirus has been detected from samples collected from Colombo, Avissawella, Biyagama and Vavuniya and oversees arrivals in the quarantine centres, Deputy Director General of Health Services Dr. Hemantha Herath yesterday said the Health Ministry would issue any guidelines and regulations to be implemented with regard to the highly transmissible variant detected in the country.
“The Health Ministry is currently carrying out necessary studies on this. It has been reported that the new variant was found in various areas, including Colombo. Clear guidelines have been issued by the Health Ministry on the measures to be taken when a new variant is identified,” he said, adding that in the meantime, the public should continue to follow safety guidelines.
