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Monday, 8 November 2021 03:31 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}
By Shailendree Wickrama Adittiya
Sri Lanka’s COVID-19 detections rose to 545,256 with 1,243 persons testing positive for COVID-19 over the weekend.
On Sunday, 626 persons from the New Year cluster tested positive for COVID-19 and 617 patients from the New Year cluster were detected the previous day. The Health Promotion Bureau states that 5,600 PCR tests and 3,246 rapid antigen tests were performed on Saturday.
Sri Lanka’s daily COVID-19 detections exceeded 600 for three consecutive days and officials have warned of a fourth wave.
According to Pharmaceutical Production, Supply and Regulation State Minister Channa Jayasumana, Western countries are expecting a fourth wave in December and it is unlikely that Sri Lanka can escape it. It is thus important to prepare for another wave of the pandemic, he said.
“There has been a gradual increase in patients in the last week. In Anuradhapura District, a significant increase can be seen close to Anuradhapura Town in the last two weeks. We have drawn special focus to this,” Jayasumana said.
According to the Epidemiology Unit, 440,532 patients have been detected from the New Year cluster, 82,785 patients have been detected from the Peliyagoda cluster, 9,052 patients have been detected from the Prisons cluster and 3,059 patients have been detected from the Divulapitiya cluster.
The country’s imported cases include 6,960 Sri Lankans and 328 foreigners.
The Epidemiology Unit states that 113,465 persons from Colombo, 96,106 persons from Gampaha, 52,179 persons from Kalutara, 33,770 persons from Galle, and 26,378 persons from Kurunegala have tested positive for COVID-19 to date.
During the third wave of the pandemic, 81,168 patients from Colombo, 77,572 patients from Gampaha, and 45,121 patients from Kalutara were detected.
At present, 16,217 persons are under medical or home-based care and 1,881 persons suspected of having COVID-19 are under observation.
Meanwhile, Sri Lanka’s COVID-19 recoveries rose to 515,183 with 271 persons released from care yesterday.
