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Sunday Dec 22, 2024
Saturday, 26 June 2021 00:54 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}
By Shailendree Wickrama Adittiya
Less than 2,000 COVID-19 patients were detected in the island for the second consecutive day since 8 May, with health authorities stating that 1,876 persons tested positive for COVID-19 yesterday.
Despite the drop in daily detections, health authorities warned that the country still faced the risk of COVID-19 spread, especially that of the Delta variant.
Primary Health Care, Epidemics and COVID Disease Control State Minister Dr. Sudarshini Fernandopulle yesterday said: “The danger has not reduced and it only increases as the virus mutates and new variants are formed.”
Stressing that safety guidelines must be followed even after being fully vaccinated, Dr. Fernandopulle said: “Prof. Neelika Malavige has carried out special studies on the virus and warns that the Delta variant can be the dominant variant in eight to ten weeks if we are not careful.”
The Health Promotion Bureau states that 17,552 PCR tests were performed yesterday.
Among the patients detected yesterday were 1,859 persons from the New Year cluster. The Divulapitiya, Peliyagoda, Prisons, and New Year clusters have a cumulative patient count of 242,701. The cumulative patient count includes 148,041 patients from the New Year cluster, 82,785 patients from the Peliyagoda cluster, 6,957 patients from the Prisons cluster, and 3,059 patients from the Divulapitiya cluster.
In addition to this, 4,966 Sri Lankan overseas arrivals and 328 foreigners have also tested positive for the virus in the country.
This takes into account the 1,941 COVID-19 positive patients detected on Thursday, of which 1,873 persons are from the New Year cluster, 44 persons from the Prisons cluster, and 24 Sri Lankan returnees from abroad.
Thursday’s patients include 386 persons from Gampaha, 261 persons from Colombo, 252 persons from Kalutara, 133 persons from Batticaloa and 125 persons from Kegalle.
Since the outbreak of COVID-19 in Sri Lanka, 60,023 persons from Colombo, 43,334 persons from Gampaha, 27,373 persons from Kalutara, 13,441 persons from Kurunegala, and 13,050 persons from Kandy have tested positive for COVID-19.
The Epidemiology Unit states that 27,726 patients from Colombo, 24,800 patients from Gampaha, and 20,315 patients from Kalutara have been detected during the third wave alone.
The country’s COVID-19 detections currently stand at 249,926.
At present, 32,444 persons are undergoing treatment and 1,419 persons suspected of having COVID-19 are under observation at various hospitals.
The Epidemiology Unit adds that 1,843 persons were discharged from treatment centres yesterday, bringing the country’s COVID-19 recoveries to 214,668.
