Kandakadu cluster expands to approx. 540 cases

• 13 new cases identified, total climbs to 2,687 
• Army Commander says 90% of Kandakadu contacts traced 
• 1000 people, mostly family members sent to quarantine 
• Health Minister says will gazette COVID-19 Health Guidelines for General Elections by tomorrow

The total number of COVID-19 cases in the country rose to 2,687, with thirteen persons testing positive for COVID-19 yesterday as the Kandakadu Rehabilitation Centre cluster reached over 540 cases, officials said. 

Of the 13 persons, four are overseas returnees, and eight are close relatives of staff members of the Kandakadu Treatment and Rehabilitation Centre. The Kandakadu cluster has over 540 cases at present.

With the exception of yesterday’s cases, the Epidemiology Unit breaks down the total confirmed cases as 950 Navy personnel and their close contacts, 846 Sri Lankan returnees from abroad, 534 from the Kandakadu cluster and their close contacts, 31 foreigners, and 313 other local cases.

The Epidemiology Unit also states that 669 persons are currently under medical care at various hospitals, including 358 at the Kandakadu Treatment Centre, 85 at the Welikanda Base Hospital, 67 at the National Institute of Infectious Diseases (NIID), 62 at the Panagoda Army Hospital, and 46 at the Kattankudy Base Hospital.

Hospitals are also monitoring 168 suspect patients, of which 25 are at the Sri Jayewardenepura Hospital, 20 are at the Chilaw General Hospital, and 17 are at the Kotelawala Defence University (KDU) Hospital.

The Health Promotion Bureau (HPB) showed the country’s recovery rate as 74.72%, with 2,007 COVID-19 recoveries in total. This includes six recoveries yesterday, of which three were from the Iranawila Hospital, with the NIID, Kattankudy Base Hospital, and Minuwangoda Base Hospital discharging one patient each.

The HPB also shows the number of PCR tests carried out in the country as 130,390, with 2,470 tests carried out on Wednesday. Health Services Director General Dr. Anil Jasinghe stated that PCR tests were carried out in Rajanganaya and other areas yesterday, and that besides the eight patients identified, all other samples tested negative for COVID-19.

“As per the new PCR testing program, contacts of the Kandakadu cluster in various parts of the island will be subjected to PCR tests in ten days’ time with around 40 samples taken from one place,” Dr. Jasinghe stated.

Army Commander Lt. Gen. Shavendra Silva stated that all persons at the Kandakadu Treatment and Rehabilitation Centre have been subjected to tests, and their results have been received. He added, “Close to 1,000 family members have been quarantined by the Sri Lanka Army, all PCR tests have been completed, and all results will be received by [this] evening.”

The Army Commander added that 378 contacts of the 116 persons who visited those at the Treatment and Rehabilitation Centre have also been subjected to PCR tests, and their results were pending.

“Around 90% of those connected to the Kandakadu centre have been found and quarantined, whether at home or at centres,” he added.

The Health and Indigenous Medical Services Minister Pavithra Wanniarachchi yesterday stated that COVID-19 Health Guidelines for the General Elections will be gazetted today or tomorrow. “It will definitely be gazetted,” she said at a discussion held between Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa and heads of media institutions yesterday.

In addition to this, the Department of Government Information stated that the Itukama COVID-19 Healthcare and Social Security Fund had surpassed a balance of Rs. 1,491 million.