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Sunday Dec 22, 2024
Saturday, 3 July 2021 00:18 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}
By Shailendree Wickrama Adittiya
A total of 1,823 persons tested positive for COVID-19 yesterday and health authorities stated that confirmation of any further detections of the Delta variant in the country can be expected over the weekend.
According to Deputy Director-General of Health Services Dr. Hemantha Herath, only five persons have thus far been confirmed to be of the Delta variant. “However, we know this variant is in the country and all control measures are being implemented,” he added.
The isolation of the Obeysekarapura Grama Niladhari Division was not due to the detection of the Delta variant, he said, but due to the detection of an excessive number of COVID-19 patients. It is also a congested area, he added
However, Dr. Herath told the Daily FT that the Delta variant has been suspected in various areas.
“Confirmation of samples collected are expected during the weekend, and we will inform the public about this,” Dr. Hemantha Herath said.
In total, 262,795 persons have tested positive for COVID-19 in Sri Lanka. Of this, 255,166 are from the Divulapitiya, Peliyagoda, Prisons and New Year clusters. This includes 160,504 persons from the New Year cluster, 82,785 persons from the Peliyagoda cluster, 7,071 persons from the Prisons cluster, and 3,059 persons from the Divulapitiya cluster.
Among yesterday’s detections were 1,737 persons from the New Year cluster.
According to the Health Promotion Bureau, 18,069 PCR tests were carried out yesterday.
Since the outbreak of COVID-19, 61,843 persons from Colombo, 45,701 persons from Gampaha, 29,007 persons from Kalutara, 13,917 persons from Kurunegala, and 13,320 persons from Kandy have tested positive for the virus.
During the third wave, 29,546 patients from Colombo, 27,167 patients from Gampaha, and 21,949 patients from Kalutara have been detected.
On Thursday, 1,883 persons tested positive for COVID-19, including 342 patients from Gampaha, 247 patients from Kalutara, and 220 patients from Colombo.
The Epidemiology Unit states that 1,799 persons from the New Year cluster and 16 persons from the Prisons cluster tested positive for COVID-19 on Thursday. In addition to this, 68 Sri Lankan returnees from overseas also tested positive for the virus on Thursday.
In total, 5,311 Sri Lankan overseas returnees and 328 foreigners have tested positive for COVID-19.
At present, 30,134 persons are under medical care and 755 persons suspected of having COVID-19 are under observation. The Epidemiology Unit adds that hospitals yesterday discharged 1,701 persons, raising the country’s COVID-19 recoveries to 229,541.
