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Friday, 29 January 2021 02:05 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}
By Shailendree Wickrama Adittiya
The triple COVID-19 cluster that emerged from Divulapitiya, Peliyagoda, and Prisons, yesterday exceeded 57,630 patients with the detection of 892 COVID-19 positive persons.
This is the highest number of COVID-19 patients detected in a day, with 887 patients detected on 21 January and 878 patients detected on 2 December 2020.
According to the Department of Government Information, patients detected yesterday include 852 associates of the Peliyagoda COVID-19 cluster. This brings the triple cluster to 57,630 patients. There were 40 overseas arrivals that tested positive for the virus as well.
In addition to this, 1,852 Sri Lankan arrivals from overseas, 950 Navy personnel and their contacts, 651 persons linked to the Kandakadu cluster, and 150 foreigners are among the country’s total patient count.
The total number of COVID-19 patients detected in Sri Lanka currently stands at 61,586, of which 6,854 patients are currently under medical care. According to the Epidemiology Unit, 507 persons at the Bingiriya Treatment Centre, 362 persons at the Punani Treatment Centre, 350 persons at the Neville Fernando Teaching Hospital and 334 persons at the Giriulla Treatment Centre are among the country’s active COVID-19 patients. Hospitals are also monitoring 688 persons suspected of having COVID-19.
The Epidemiology Unit adds that the total number of COVID-19 recoveries has risen to 54,435 with 157 persons from the Giriulla Treatment Centre, 127 persons from the Neville Fernando Teaching Hospital, and 118 persons from the Gallela Treatment Centre among COVID-19 recoveries discharged yesterday.
In terms of the district distribution of the total patients, 22,707 persons from Colombo, 12,392 persons from Gampaha, 4,207 persons from Kalutara, 2,359 persons from Kandy, and 1,312 persons from Galle have tested positive for COVID-19 to date.
This includes the 772 COVID-19 patients detected on Wednesday, of which 189 were from Colombo District. Of these cases 28 patients were from Colombo 15, 27 were from Colombo 5, 24 were from the Colombo Municipal Council area, and 23 patients were from Colombo 3.
Among the COVID-19 patients detected on Wednesday are 179 persons from Gampaha, 93 persons from Kalutara, 62 persons from Kurunegala, and 36 persons from Ampara.
According to the Health Promotion Bureau, 1,659,725 PCR tests have been performed to date, including 19,420 PCR tests carried out on Wednesday.
Police Spokesperson DIG Ajith Rohana yesterday stated that testing will be carried out at 12 Western Province exit points. “We expect the fullest cooperation of the public in this regard,” he said. “In addition to this, persons will be subjected to rapid antigen testing at random in the Western Province, particularly in Colombo city and public places like Galle Face, Fort, and Pettah.”
Drivers, conductors, and passengers of long-distance buses from Colombo will also be subjected to testing. He added that observation visits took place on Wednesday to ensure 830 Public and private institutions in the Western Province were adhering to safety guidelines. Of these, 71 failed to comply with regulations. As such, legal action will be taken against the management of these establishments, DIG Ajith Rohana said.
