Saturday Nov 23, 2024
Saturday Nov 23, 2024
Monday, 5 July 2021 03:42 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}
By Shailendree Wickrama Adittiya
A total of 1,573 persons tested positive for COVID-19 yesterday and the Health Ministry stated that PCR samples of the contacts of COVID-19 patients detected with the Delta variant are being collected and will be sent to the Sri Jayewardenepura University for testing.
On Saturday, the Health Ministry stated that studies carried out by the Sri Jayewardenepura University found 14 samples with the Delta variant. They received the samples from the Colombo Municipal Council, National Institute of Mental Health – Mulleriyawa, Karapitiya Teaching Hospital, and a private hospital in Matara.
“They are from Colombo 2, Colombo 5, Colombo 9, Colombo 10, and Colombo 14, as well as one patient each from Galle and Matara. The Delta variant was also detected from a few patients of the National Mental Health Institute,” Director General of Health Services Dr. Asela Gunawardena said.
He added that all patients detected from the Colombo Municipal Council (CMC) area, with the exception of one patient, have completed treatment and are quarantining at home. Only one patient is still under medical care. The patients detected from Galle and Matara have also completed treatment at centres and are quarantining at home.
“In addition to this, PCR samples of their contacts are being collected and we plan to direct these to the Sri Jayewardenepura University as well,” he said, adding that the persons who contracted the Delta variant were persons who came into contact with society.
According to Health authorities, the patients were between ages 25 and 55 and a total of 142 samples collected from various parts of the island were tested.
Data published by the Health Promotion Bureau shows that on Sunday, only 9,279 PCR tests were carried out. According to Dr. Gunawardena, testing has dropped due to the workers’ strikes being carried out by various health workers. He said this has affected the number of samples being collected as well as the samples being tested.
The Director General of Health Services added that a drop in COVID-19 patients is also visible.
On Saturday, 18,177 PCR tests were carried out and 1,262 COVID-19 patients were detected. This is the lowest number of patients detected in a day since 27 April, when 1,111 persons tested positive for the virus.
The patients detected on Saturday include 1,244 persons from the New Year cluster, 11 Sri Lankan returnees from overseas and seven persons from the Prisons cluster.
The detections include 247 persons from Gampaha, 224 persons from Kalutara, 105 persons from Trincomalee, 98 persons from Colombo, and 87 persons from Polonnaruwa.
In total, 62,212 persons from Colombo, 46,458 persons from Gampaha, 29,366 persons from Kalutara, 14,162 persons from Kurunegala, and 13,456 persons from Kandy have contracted the virus.
During the third wave alone, 29,915 persons from Colombo, 27,924 persons from Gampaha, and 22,308 persons from Kalutara tested positive for COVID-19.
The Epidemiology Unit states that the local cases include 163,449 persons from the New Year cluster, 82,785 persons from the Peliyagoda cluster, 7,114 persons from the Prisons cluster, and 3,059 persons from the Divulapitiya cluster.
The country’s imported cases consist of 5,408 Sri Lankan returnees from overseas and 328 foreigners.
Among the patients detected yesterday are 1,517 persons from the New Year cluster, bringing the cumulative patient count of the Divulapitiya, Peliyagoda, Prisons and New Year clusters to 257,934.
In total, 265,630 persons have tested positive for COVID-19 and 29,122 persons are currently under medical care.
Hospitals are observing 1,019 persons suspected of having COVID-19 and discharged 1,923 persons who recovered from the virus yesterday. The country’s COVID-19 recoveries have thus risen to 233,317.
