• Total 126 with 11 cured and discharged, 117 suspected cases still hospitalised
• 77 people sent home from quarantine centres bringing total released to 1,565
• 2,096 remain in 47 quarantine centres including 20 foreigners
• Police appeals to public to maintain social distancing when curfew is briefly suspended today   

Five new cases of COVID-19 were confirmed yesterday bringing the total number of  patients infected with the novel coronavirus to 115, authorities said yesterday with Police calling on the public to be vigilant and practice social distancing when curfew is temporarily lifted today in Colombo and select districts. 

The latest figure disclosed by Health Services Director General Dr. Anil Jasinghe was as at 5.30 p.m. yesterday. 

With yesterday's addition  Sri Lanka’s total number of COVID-19 cases increased to 126 with 117 people hospitalised. However, two more people were sent home yesterday after being cured, bringing the number of cured up to 11, according to the Health Promotion Bureau.   

Yesterday, another 77 people who had completed quarantine left their respective centres, Army Commander Lt. Gen. Shavendra Silva said.

 With the latest number, a total of 1,565 people have left the quarantine centres over the past week, bringing down the number of people remaining in 47 quarantine centres down to 2,096 from a high of over 3,500.

Of those remaining in quarantine centres, 20 are foreigners. An additional 132 people will be discharged today, of them 76 were quarantined in Diyathalawa, while the rest were in Punani. The Army Commander voiced concern over possible community spread of the virus and urged people to remain cautious.

“We hope that people maintain social distancing when curfew is lifted on Monday morning. As you can see there is reason to be concerned and it is hoped that people are aware and act accordingly. These are all done to assist the public and we request your support in this effort. Disinfection by Tri-Forces will continue and if any organisation needs our services, we ask them to reach out to us,” he added.

Meanwhile a total of 206 people were arrested for violating curfew yesterday, Police said.

These people were arrested in the six hours from 6 a.m. to 12 noon yesterday, Police Headquarters said. In addition, 56 vehicles have also been seized during the same time period. Accordingly, 6,247 curfew violators have been arrested since island-wide curfew was first implemented on 20 March. Meanwhile, the total number of vehicles seized by the Police has increased to 1,533.

Police also said curfew in Colombo, Gampaha, Kalutara, Puttalam, Kandy, and Jaffna Districts will continue indefinitely. However, curfew in other areas will be lifted at 6 a.m. today and re-imposed at 2 p.m.

In addition, two villages in Kadayankulam in Puttalam and one village in Akurana in Kandy remain sealed to prevent the spread of COVID-19, Police Spokesman DIG Ajith Rohana said. Athuluwagama and Akurana continue to be sealed off, police said yesterday evening.  

The military has set up a quarantine centre at Kadayakulam in Puttalam to quarantine villagers as necessary for 14 days. 

Over 6,200 arrested, 1,500 vehicles seized for violating curfew