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Friday, 27 August 2021 02:14 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}
By Shailendree Wickrama Adittiya
Health officials said the country’s total COVID-19 detections have risen to 412,370 with 4,602 persons testing positive for COVID-19 yesterday.
The patients detected yesterday include 4,597 persons from the New Year cluster and five overseas arrivals. According to the Health Promotion Bureau, 16,189 PCR tests were carried out yesterday. The day before, 18,051 PCR tests and 4,355 rapid antigen tests were carried out.
On Wednesday, 4,464 persons linked to the New Year cluster, 11 Sri Lankan overseas arrivals, and eight persons from the Prisons cluster tested positive for COVID-19.
The Epidemiology Unit states that 304,764 persons from the New Year cluster, 8,132 persons from the Prisons cluster, 6,786 Sri Lankan overseas arrivals and 328 foreigners have tested positive for COVID-19 thus far.
The total COVID-19 detections include 93,355 persons from Colombo, 74,515 persons from Gampaha, 42,352 persons from Kalutara, 22,541 persons from Galle, and 19,413 persons from Kurunegala.
Third wave detections from the Western Province include 61,058 persons from Colombo, 55,981 persons from Gampaha, and 35,294 persons from Kalutara.
At present, 53,353 persons are under medical or home-based care and 3,372 persons suspected of having COVID-19 are under observation.
The Epidemiology Unit states that 351,069 persons have recovered from COVID-19 to date. This includes 2,139 persons released from treatment centres yesterday.
Meanwhile, Parliament Secretary General Dhammika Dasanayake stated that the Corona Virus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) (Temporary Provisions) Bill, which was passed in Parliament on 17 August, was certified by Speaker Mahinda Yapa Abeywardena on Monday.
According to the Parliament of Sri Lanka, the purpose of the Bill is to make temporary provisions in situations where persons are unable to perform certain actions required by law within the prescribed time period due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The Bill was also introduced to assign alternative courts where a court cannot function due to circumstances brought on by the pandemic and conduct court proceedings using remote communication technology. The purpose of the Bill is to also grant relief to parties who are unable to perform contractual obligations due to COVID-19 circumstances and for matters connected therewith or incidental thereto.