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Tuesday, 15 December 2020 00:25 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}
By Shailendree Wickrama Adittiya
The total number of COVID-19 patients linked to the Divilapitiya, Peliyagoda, and Prisons clusters yesterday rose to 29,837 with the detection of 688 new patients.
According to the Department of Government Information, the patients include 627 persons linked to the Peliyagoda cluster, 58 persons linked to the Prisons cluster, and three overseas arrivals.
A total of 33,478 COVID-19 patients have been identified in the country to date. In addition to the Divulapitiya, Peliyagoda, and Prisons clusters, the total count includes 1,604 Sri Lankan returnees from abroad, 950 Navy personnel and their contacts, 651 persons linked to the Kandakadu cluster, and 121 foreigners. According to the Epidemiology Unit, 9,015 COVID-19 patients are currently under medical care at 62 treatment centres in the country. The active cases include 728 persons at the Punani Treatment Centre, 478 persons at the Bingiriya Treatment Centre, 440 persons at the Kandakadu Treatment Centre, and 433 persons at the Gallela Treatment Centre.
Hospitals are also monitoring 510 persons suspected of having COVID-19.
The Epidemiology Unit states that 516 persons were discharged from various hospitals. This includes 58 persons from the Hikkaduwa Treatment Centre, 42 persons from the Dambadeniya Treatment Centre, and 39 persons from the Bingiriya Treatment Centre.
A total of 24,309 persons have recovered from COVID-19 to date. According to the National Operations Centre for the Prevention of the COVID-19 Outbreak (NOCPCO), 7,211 persons are currently undergoing quarantine at 76 centres. This includes overseas arrivals.
The NOCPCO adds that 47 persons from China, 42 persons from Qatar, seven persons from the Maldives, and six persons from Pakistan arrived in the island yesterday. According to the Health Promotion Bureau, 1,017,682 PCR tests have been carried out in the island to date. This includes 13,479 tests on Sunday. In the district distribution of COVID-19 patients published yesterday, the Epidemiology Unit states that 13,623 persons from Colombo District have tested positive for COVID-19 to date. This includes 444 patients detected on Sunday, of which 156 were from Borella, 53 were from Mattakkuliya, 49 were from Slave Island, and 37 were from Awissawella.
The 655 persons detected on Sunday also includes 75 from Gampaha, 41 from Ampara, and 22 from Kurunegala. The patients detected from Gampaha include 27 from Mabole, 22 from Mahara, and 10 from Wattala. The Epidemiology Unit adds that 7,272 persons from Gampaha District, 1,855 persons from Kalutara District, 873 persons from Kandy District, and 438 persons from Kurunegala District have tested positive for COVID-19 to date.
Isolation is currently active in Police Jurisdictions and Grama Sevaka Divisions in eight districts. According to Police Spokesperson DIG Ajith Rohana, 24 Grama Sevaka Divisions and nine Police Jurisdictions are currently isolated.
“If you constantly adhere to quarantine regulations, your housing scheme can be removed from isolation quickly. If you do not adhere to regulations or if you do not come forward for PCR or rapid antigen testing, your flats, estates or area will be under isolation for a lengthy period of time,” he added.