Sunday Nov 24, 2024
Sunday Nov 24, 2024
Wednesday, 8 September 2021 00:20 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}
By Shailendree Wickrama Adittiya
Daily COVID-19 detections dropped below 3,000 yesterday, with 2,964 persons testing positive for COVID-19.
Daily detections have remained above 3,000 since 10 August, when 2,922 COVID-19 patients were detected.
The Epidemiology Unit adds that 2,950 delayed cases reported between 1 September and 5 September have been added to the total count after verification.
The patients detected yesterday include 2,960 persons from the New Year cluster and four overseas arrivals.
According to the Health Promotion Bureau, 9,977 PCR tests were carried out yesterday. The day before, 11,403 PCR tests and 3,017 rapid antigen tests were carried out, with daily testing dropping below 15,000.
Public Health Inspectors Union (PHIU) President Upul Rohana stated that various measures have been taken to limit testing. “Due to these restrictions, it is not possible to form an opinion on the increase or decrease of patients, which is pushing us in to a somewhat crisis situation.”
On Monday, 3,153 persons from the New Year cluster, 20 persons from the Prisons cluster, and nine Sri Lankan overseas arrivals tested positive for COVID-19.
In total, 365,690 patients have been detected from the New year cluster and 8,270 patients have been detected from the Prisons cluster. The local cases also include 82,785 persons from the Peliyagoda cluster and 3,059 persons from the Divulapitiya cluster.
The imported COVID-19 cases consist of 6,853 Sri Lankans and 328 foreigners.
A total of 471,863 COVID-19 patients have been detected to date.
The district distribution of COVID-19 detections shows 103,231 persons from Colombo, 85,928 persons from Gampaha, 47,121 persons from Kalutara, 25,797 persons from Galle, and 22,522 persons from Kurunegala.
Western Province detections during the third wave include 70,934 persons from Colombo, 67,394 persons from Gampaha, and 40,063 persons from Kalutara.
At present, 73,081 persons are under medical or home-based care, with hospitals monitoring 3,888 persons suspected of having COVID-19.
The Epidemiology Unit adds that the country’s COVID-19 recoveries rose to 388,278, with 1,769 persons leaving hospitals yesterday.
Following reports that National Institute of Infectious Diseases (NIID) senior consultant physician Dr. Ananda Wijewickrama had resigned from the Health Ministry’s COVID-19 Technical Committee, Deputy Director of Health Services Dr. Hemantha Herath said he hoped Dr. Wijewickrama would reconsider his decision as he had played a key role in COVID-19 prevention.
When questioned if Dr. Wijewickrama had left the committee due to disagreements about the vaccination process, Dr Herath said, “If there is a feeling of such an occurrence, the action taken by him will be sufficient to open the eyes of anyone responsible.”
