1,282 persons test positive for COVID-19

• 634,333 COVID-19 patients detected to date
• Includes 528,597 from New Year cluster
• Active cases rise to 21,745
• 310 persons released from care

By Shailendree Wickrama Adittiya

Sri Lanka’s COVID-19 detections rose to 634,333 following the detection of 1,282 COVID-19 positive persons yesterday.

The Department of Government Information states that all patients detected yesterday were from the New Year cluster.

The previous day, 1,233 persons from the New Year cluster and two Sri Lankan overseas arrivals tested positive for COVID-19. According to the Health Promotion Bureau, 6,436 PCR tests and 2,739 rapid antigen tests were conducted on Thursday.

In total, 528,597 persons from the New Year cluster, 82,785 persons from the Peliyagoda cluster, 9,152 persons from the Prisons cluster and 3,059 persons from the Divulapitiya cluster have tested positive for COVID-19.

The country’s imported cases include 7,216 Sri Lankan returnees from overseas and 328 foreigners.

The district distribution of COVID-19 detections shows 130,463 patients from Colombo, 110,245 patients from Gampaha, 56,288 patients from Kalutara, 41,843 patients from Galle, and 30,253 patients from Kuruengala.

During the third wave of the pandemic, 98,166 persons from Colombo, 91,711 persons from Gampaha, and 49,230 persons from Kalutara tested positive for COVID-19.

At present, 21,745 persons are under medical or home-based care. In addition to this, 1,424 persons suspected of having COVID-19 are under observation.

The country’s COVID-19 recoveries rose to 596,639 with 310 persons released from care yesterday.