Saturday Nov 23, 2024
Saturday Nov 23, 2024
Friday, 6 August 2021 03:16 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}
By Shailendree Wickrama Adittiya
Sri Lanka’s COVID-19 detections rose to 321,429 with 2,674 persons testing positive for COVID-19 yesterday.
The Divulapitiya, Peliyagoda, Prisons and New Year clusters have expanded to 312,834 patients as yesterday’s detections include 2,669 persons from the New Year cluster.
The cumulative patient count of the clusters includes 216,429 persons from the New Year cluster, 82,785 persons from the Peliyagoda cluster, 7,882 persons from the Prisons cluster, and 3,059 persons from the Divulapitiya cluster.
The Epidemiology Unit states that 6,358 Sri Lankan returnees from overseas and 328 foreigners have also tested positive for COVID-19.
The district distribution of COVID-19 patients shows 74,196 detections from Colombo, 57,788 detections from Gampaha, 34,325 detections from Kalutara, 15,692 detections from Kurunegala, and 15,290 detections from Galle.
During the third wave of the pandemic, 41,899 persons from Colombo, 39,254 persons from Gampaha, and 27,267 persons from Kalutara tested positive for COVID-19.
This includes the patients detected on Wednesday, of which 393 were from Gampaha, 388 were from Colombo, and 382 were from Kalutara. On Wednesday, 2,561 persons tested positive for COVID-19. This includes 2,526 persons from the New Year cluster, 18 Sri Lankan overseas arrivals, and 17 persons from the Prisons cluster.
The Health Promotion Bureau states that 14,569 PCR tests and 6,140 rapid antigen tests were carried out on Wednesday. A total of 16,810 PCR tests were carried out yesterday. Meanwhile, the country’s COVID-19 recoveries rose to 286,365 with 1,841 persons leaving treatment centres yesterday. At present, 30,337 persons are under medical care and 2,244 persons suspected of having COVID-19 are under observation.
According to Health Minister Pavithradevi Wanniarachchi, a home care program for asymptomatic COVID-19 patients will be launched countrywide on Monday. The program has been implemented in Kalutara District as a pilot project.
The decision comes with reports of major hospitals reaching their patient capacity. Pharmaceutical Production, Supply and Regulation State Minister Prof. Channa Jayasumana in Parliament yesterday said a rapid increase in the number of patients requiring oxygen supply has been observed.
“At present, the oxygen manufactured in the country is used almost entirely for patient needs. Due to this, arrangements are being made to import oxygen from India and Singapore in the next two weeks,” he said.
