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Thursday, 3 February 2022 04:33 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}
By Shailendree Wickrama Adittiya
Sri Lanka’s COVID-19 detections rose to 613,478 with 1,156 persons testing positive for COVID-19 yesterday.
The Department of Government Information states that 1,151 persons from the New Year cluster and five overseas arrivals were among the patients detected yesterday.
The previous day, 1,132 persons from the New Year cluster and five Sri Lankan overseas returnees tested positive for COVID-19. The Health Promotion Bureau states that 7,697 PCR tests and 5,210 rapid antigen tests were conducted on Tuesday.
The country’s total COVID-19 detections include 507,916 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.
In terms of imported cases, 7,185 Sri Lankan overseas arrivals and 328 foreigners have tested positive for COVID-19.
The Epidemiology Unit states that 124,889 persons from Colombo, 105,727 persons from Gampaha, 55,135 persons from Kalutara, 40,172 persons from Galle, and 29,324 persons from Kurunegala are included in the country’s total case count.
During the third wave of the pandemic, 92,592 patients from Colombo, 87,193 patients from Gampaha, and 48,077 patients from Kalutara tested positive for COVID-19.
At present, 18,666 persons are under medical or home-based care and 2,458 persons suspected of having COVID-19 are under observation.
The Epidemiology Unit states that 471 persons were released from care yesterday, raising the country’s COVID-19 recoveries to 579,320.
According to Colombo Municipal Council Chief Medical Officer of Health Dr. Ruwan Wijayamuni, COVID-19 fatalities have increased by 4% in Colombo city. “What stands out here is that none of the COVID-19 fatalities since 1 January had received the third dose,” he said.
However, health officials say that interest in vaccination is growing.
According to Deputy Director of Health Services Dr. Hemantha Herath, the lack of interest shown by the public towards COVID-19 immunisation has changed. This is reflected by the number of persons vaccinated on Tuesday, when 91,619 persons received the booster dose.
“If 100,000 persons get the third dose each day, all persons can be vaccinated within ten to 15 days,” Dr. Herath said.
