Health officials on Wednesday confirmed 42 COVID-19 deaths, which brought the country’s COVID-19 fatalities to 3,959.

Of the 42 COVID-19 deaths, 25 were male and 17 were female. In total, 2,306 fatalities have been male and 1,653 fatalities have been female.

The deaths confirmed by the Health Services Director-General include 35 persons over the age of 60, six persons between ages 30 and 59, and one person below the age of 30. The Epidemiology Unit states that 74.98% of fatalities had been over the age of 60, 23.74% had been between ages 30 and 59, and 1.28% had been below 30.

Meanwhile, the Health Ministry yesterday stated that COVID-19 fatalities and persons who require ICU treatment for COVID-19 in the country thus far are persons who had not received even one dose of a COVID-19 vaccine.

“We thus request all persons over the age of 60 and persons with various complications to partake in the vaccination program and receive the vaccine in order to protect oneself as well as others,” Health Minister Pavithra Wanniarachchi said.

She added that a drop had been seen in the participation in the vaccination program.

1,721 persons test positive for COVID-19

175,696 persons vaccinated on Wednesday