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Friday Sep 20, 2024
Friday, 29 May 2020 00:22 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}
By Shailendree
Wickrama Adittiya
Sixty-one persons tested positive for COVID-19 yesterday, bringing the total number of confirmed cases in the country to 1,530.
Am0ng the new cases were 35 returnees from Dubai and Kuwait and 26 Navy personnel. The Dubai returnees were identified from the Giragama Quarantine Centre and the Kuwait returnees were at the Trincomalee Quarantine Centre.
Of the total cases, 755 are Navy personnel and their close contacts and 309 are other local cases. The Epidemiology Unit stated there are 466 imported cases, of which only three are foreigners and the rest are Sri Lankan returnees from other countries.
A total of 775 patients are currently receiving treatment at various hospitals, including 113 at the Homagama Base Hospital, 94 at the Kattankudy Base Hospital, and 85 at the Welikanda Base Hospital.
In addition to this, seven persons from the Navy Hospital, four from the Homagama Base Hospital, and one each from the National Institute of Infectious Diseases (NIID) and the Colombo East Base Hospital were discharged following recovery from COVID-19 yesterday. The 13 new recoveries bring the total to 745.
The Epidemiology Unit also states that 68 suspect patients have been hospitalised.
According to the Health Promotion Bureau, 59,165 PCR tests have been carried out so far, including 1,838 on Wednesday.
In a statement issued yesterday, the Sri Lanka Navy stated that 13 naval officers were discharged following recovery from COVID-19 on Wednesday, bringing the total recoveries from the Sri Lanka Navy to 357. Those who have been discharged will be subjected to a 14-day quarantine.
While over 300 returnees from foreign countries have tested positive for COVID-19 since 22 April, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA) yesterday stated that the Government was making arrangements to facilitate the early return of Sri Lankans from Seychelles.
The statement read, “Considering the many Sri Lankans residing and working in Seychelles who have registered their interest in returning to Sri Lanka, the Government is making arrangements to facilitate their return to Sri Lanka in compliance with the existing regulations and availability of quarantine facilities in the country.”
According to the MFA, the Sri Lanka High Commission in Seychelles has been in touch with Sri Lankan community members and has established a 24-hour hotline through which Sri Lankans can easily reach the Mission.
An announcement was also made by the President’s Media Division (PMD) on curfew which is to be imposed in the coming week. All-island curfew will be in effect on 31 May as well as 4 June and 5 June. From 1 June to 3 June, curfew will be in effect from 10 p.m. to 4 a.m. island-wide.
From 6 June onwards, island-wide curfew will be implemented daily from 10 p.m. to 4 a.m. until further notice.
During the island-wide curfew ending at 4 a.m. yesterday, 178 persons and 38 vehicles were taken into custody over curfew violations, the Defence Ministry stated. This brings the number of arrests made since 20 March to 66,519 and the number of vehicles seized to 18,733.
The Defence Ministry stated that 21,787 law suits have been filed against curfew violators.
