1,137 persons test positive for COVID-19

• Daily detections exceed 1,000 three days in a row
• Health officials urge public to adhere to safety guidelines during long-weekend trips
• 612,322, COVID-19 patients detected to date, includes 506,784 from New Year cluster
• Active cases rise to 18,000

 

By Shailendree Wickrama Adittiya

Daily COVID-19 detections exceeded 1,000 for the third consecutive day with 1,137 persons testing positive for the virus yesterday.

With the rise in cases, health officials warn the public about any travel plans during the upcoming long weekend, stressing the importance of adhering to safety guidelines.

Health Services Deputy Director Dr. Hemantha Herath said health officials were not planning on telling the public to refrain from any travel during the long weekend. However, he said persons must avoid crowded places.

“Adhere to safety guidelines during the journey as well as when gathering together. If you do visit a crowded place when going on a trip or any other journey, follow health guidelines whether it is at a place of worship or leisure,” Dr. Herath said.

He added that adhering to safety guidelines will prevent further spread of COVID-19 following the long weekend and urged persons to get the booster dose in order to reduce hospitalisations.

Meanwhile, public health inspectors (PHI) yesterday warned of an increase in COVID-19 spread among school children.

“An epidemic situation is spreading and the next wave is being created. All persons must thus adhere to safety guidelines or an extremely unfortunate situation will be reported in future,” PHI Union President Upul Rohana said.

A total of 612,322 COVID-19 patients have been detected in the country to date.

This includes 506,784 persons from the New Year cluster, 82,785 persons from the Peliyagoda cluster, 9,135 persons from the Prisons cluster, and 3,059 persons from the Divulapitiya cluster.

The Epidemiology Unit states that 7,180 Sri Lankan overseas arrivals and 328 foreigners are also included in the country’s total COVID-19 detections.

The patients detected yesterday include 1,132 persons from the New Year cluster and five overseas arrivals. The previous day, 1,075 persons from the New Year cluster and seven Sri Lankan overseas arrivals tested positive for COVID-19. The Health Promotion Bureau states that 1,739 PCR tests and 6,213 rapid antigen tests were conducted on Monday.

According to the Epidemiology Unit, 124,562 persons from Colombo, 105,535 persons from Gampaha, 55,045 persons from Kalutara, 40,158 persons from Galle, and 29,284 persons from Kurunegala have tested positive for COVID-19.

The district distribution of COVID-19 detections during the third wave of the pandemic includes 92,265 persons from Colombo, 87,001 persons from Gampaha, and 47,987 persons from Kalutara.

At present, 18,000 persons are under medical or home-based care and 2,044 persons suspected of having COVID-19 are under observation.

The country’s COVID-19 recoveries rose to 578,849 with 417 persons released from care yesterday.

Meanwhile, Virologist Dr. Nadeeka Janage explained that fully-vaccinated persons who contract COVID-19 are infectious for a shorter period of time, which is why a negative test was not required when infected persons return to work having completed their quarantine period.

“Fully-vaccinated persons who contract the disease have a shorter infectious period. It was previously said that a person can spread the virus for ten to 14 days, but a fully-vaccinated person with the booster dose will see a drop in infectiousness within a few days,” he explained.