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Tuesday, 26 January 2021 01:23 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}
By Shailendree Wickrama Adittiya
The Divulapitiya, Peliyagoda and Prisons COVID-19 clusters that first emerged on 4 October rose to 55,288 patients, with health authorities confirming that 737 persons tested positive for the virus yesterday.
According to the Department of Government Information, the 737 patients detected yesterday were associates of the Peliyagoda cluster.
In addition to the triple clusters, 1,815 Sri Lankan returnees from abroad, 950 Navy personnel and their contacts, 651 persons from the Kandakadu cluster and 150 foreigners have also tested positive for COVID-19 in Sri Lanka to date.
The total patient count currently stands at 59,167 and the overall district distribution of COVID-19 patients records 22,043 persons from Colombo District, 12,032 from Gampaha District and 3,916 persons from Kalutara District. Beyond the Western Province, 2,220 patients from Kandy, 1,189 patients from Galle and 1,108 patients from Ratnapura have also been detected to date.
Of the 843 COVID-19 patients detected yesterday, 480 were detected from the Colombo District. This includes 29 patients from Colombo 5, 29 patients from Wellampitiya and 29 patients from Mount Lavinia.
According to the Department of Government Information, 86 persons from Gampaha District, 72 persons from Kalutara District, 40 persons from Galle District and 35 persons from Kandy District also tested positive for COVID-19 on Sunday.
The Epidemiology Unit states that 8,543 patients are currently under medical care, of which 769 persons are at the Punani Treatment Centre, 481 persons are at the Bingiriya Treatment Centre, 477 persons are at the Neville Fernando Teaching Hospital and 431 persons are at the Gallela Treatment Centre. Hospitals are also monitoring 683 persons suspected of having COVID-19.
Deputy Director General of Health Services Dr. Hemantha Herath yesterday said the Health Ministry has established a total of 79 COVID-19 treatment centres with a total capacity of 13,066 beds. Of this, 10,112 beds are currently in use.
According to the Health Promotion Bureau, 1,608,615 PCR tests have been carried out to date, including the 14,947 tests performed on Sunday.
The Parliament of Sri Lanka yesterday issued a statement on steps taken to identify close contacts of Kandy District Parliamentarian Vasantha Yapa Bandara, who tested positive for COVID-19. According to the statement, relevant areas in the Parliament premises have been disinfected and 190 persons were directed for PCR testing yesterday. Over 1,400 persons have been tested through the program carried out in Parliament to date.
Meanwhile, the total COVID-19 recoveries yesterday rose to 50,337 and the Epidemiology Unit states that 135 persons from the Kopai Treatment Centre, 72 persons from the Rambukkana Treatment Centre and 50 persons from the Bingiriya Treatment Centre were among those discharged yesterday.
Several areas in the Kalmunai North and South Grama Niladhari Divisions were yesterday released from isolation along with the Yonakapura East and West Grama Niladhari Divisions in Dikwella, the National Operations Centre for the Prevention of the COVID-19 Outbreak (NOCPCO) said, adding that a village in the Hambantota District and two Grama Niladhari Divisions in the Pujapitiya MOH Division have been newly isolated.
In terms of quarantine measures, the NOCPCO states that 7,812 persons are currently undergoing the process at 94 centres.
