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Sunday Dec 22, 2024
Saturday, 9 January 2021 00:30 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}
By Shailendree Wickrama Adittiya
The total number of COVID-19 patients detected in the island yesterday exceeded 47,000, with the detection of 525 COVID-19 patients.
According to the Department of Government Information, 524 associates of the Peliyagoda COVID-19 cluster tested positive for the virus, bringing the total number of patients linked to the Divulapitiya, Peliyagoda, and Prisons clusters to 43,547. An overseas arrival also tested positive for COVID-19 yesterday.
In addition to this, 1,709 Sri Lankan returnees from abroad, 950 Navy personnel and their contacts, 651 persons linked to the Kandakadu cluster and 134 foreigners are among the patients detected in the island. The Epidemiology Unit states that a total of 47,305 persons have tested positive for the virus to date.
Of the total count, 6,763 patients are currently receiving treatment at various hospitals. This includes 447 persons at the Gallela Treatment Centre, 424 persons at the Punani Treatment Centre, and 419 persons at the Bingiriya Treatment Centre.
Hospitals are also monitoring 671 persons suspected of having COVID-19.
The total number of COVID-19 recoveries currently stands at 40,317. According to the Epidemiology Unit, 127 persons from the Kopai Treatment Centre, 55 persons from the Bingiriya Treatment Centre, and 47 persons from the Hikkaduwa Treatment Centre are among those discharged from hospitals yesterday.
While Deputy Director General of Health Services Dr. Hemantha Herath yesterday said there was a drop in the number of COVID-19 patients detected in the country, Public Health Inspectors’ Union President Upul Rohana said the country was moving toward a high threat level with the emergence of sub-clusters outside Colombo.
He added that a lack of cooperation from the public and the submission of false information were some of the key issues faced by health officials when implementing COVID-19 prevention measures.
A total of 18,733 COVID-19 patients have been detected from Colombo District and the 31,767 patients from the Western Province includes 9,821 patients from the Gampaha District and 3,213 patients from Kalutara District.
The district distribution of COVID-19 patients also records 1,528 patients from Kandy, 808 patients from Kalmunai, and 797 patients from Ratnapura.
A total of 532 persons tested positive for COVID-19 on Thursday, of which 226 COVID-19 patients were detected from Colombo District. This includes 27 from Grandpass, 23 from Bloemendhal, and 19 from Dematagoda as well as 35 employees of a garment manufacturing facility in Avissawella.
A total of 72 persons from Kandy, 50 persons from Gampaha, 46 persons from Galle, and 31 persons from Kalutara also tested positive for the virus on Thursday.
According to the Health Promotion Bureau, 1,343,184 PCR tests have been performed in the island to date. This includes 16,351 tests performed on Thursday.
Speaking about the operation launched by the Police to subject persons not wearing face masks in public to either rapid antigen tests or PCR tests, Police Spokesperson DIG Ajith Rohana said: “This operation was launched on Tuesday and Police has taken action against a total of 1,938 persons who failed to wear face masks. Legal action will be filed against them under quarantine regulations.”
He added that 1,022 of the 1,938 persons have been subjected to rapid antigen tests and 19 have tested positive.
