COVID-19 detections exceed 3,000 for third consecutive day with 3,410 testing positive

• Country’s COVID-19 patient count rises to 199,254
• Includes 104,287 from WP; 46,398 of which were detected during third wave
• 33,317 persons under medical care
• Recoveries rise to 164,281

By Shailendree Wickrama Adittiya

A total of 3,410 persons tested positive for COVID-19 yesterday, bringing the country’s total COVID-19 detections to 199,254.

This is the third consecutive day where the daily COVID-19 detections exceeded 3,000. The patients detected yesterday include 3,398 persons linked to the New Year cluster. The cumulative patient count of the Divulapitiya, Peliyagoda, Prisons and New Year clusters is 192,584. Of this, 97,236 are from the New Year cluster, 82,785 are from the Peliyagoda cluster, 6,106 are from the Prisons cluster, and 3,059 are from the Divulapitiya cluster.

The country’s imported COVID-19 cases include 4,426 Sri Lankan overseas returnees and 318 foreigners.

This takes into account the patients detected on Thursday, of which 3,171 were linked to the New Year cluster, 93 were linked to the Prisons cluster, and 33 were Sri Lankan returnees from abroad.

In addition to this, 48 deaths were reported yesterday, raising the total death toll to 1,656.

A total of 3,297 persons tested positive for COVID-19 on Thursday, including 648 persons from Gampaha, 630 persons from Colombo, and 409 persons from Kalutara.

The district distribution of COVID-19 patients detected to date records 49,969 persons from Colombo, 33,728 persons from Gampaha, 20,590 persons from Kalutara, 10,445 persons from Kandy, and 9,681 persons from Kurunegala.

COVID-19 detections during the third wave of the pandemic include 17,672 persons from Colombo, 15,194 persons from Gampaha, 13,532 persons from Kalutara, 6,460 persons from Kurunegala, and 5,440 persons from Galle.

At present, 33,317 persons are under medical care, including 681 persons at the Punani Treatment Centre, 619 persons at the Bingiriya Treatment Centre, and 488 persons at the Neville Fernando Teaching Hospital. In addition to this, 1,502 persons suspected of having COVID-19 are under observation at various hospitals.

Hospitals yesterday discharged 1,884 persons, including 154 persons from the Dambadeniya Treatment Centre, 116 persons from the Kandakadu Treatment Centre, and 99 persons from the Punani Treatment Centre.

A total of 164,281 persons have recovered from the virus to date.

Meanwhile, the Health Promotion Bureau states that 21,754 PCR tests were performed yesterday.