500 repatriated as COVID-19 total reaches 3,162

• Five repatriated persons test positive
• 179 COVID-19 patients remain in care
• 115 return home from quarantine, 6,206 remain in 59 centres

Seven new COVID-19 cases were reported yesterday, raising the total number of confirmed cases in Sri Lanka to 3,162. According to the Department of Government Information, five of the seven patients were recently repatriated from the Maldives while the other two were repatriated from UAE and had been in quarantine when tested.

One hundred and fifteen persons were released from quarantine yesterday, after they tested negative for COVID-19. The group had completed the mandated quarantine program and were released from seven centres, the National Operations Centre for the Prevention of COVID-19 (NOCPC) said yesterday. 

According to the Health Promotions Bureau, 179 infected patients remain under medical care. Fourteen COVID-19 patients were discharged yesterday, the Epidemiology Unit of the Health Ministry said. A total of 2,969 infected patients have recovered to date. A dozen people have succumbed to the virus. Thirty-nine persons suspected to have COVID-19 symptoms are being closely monitored by health authorities.

Of the patients under treatment, 67 patients, including six foreign nationals, are being treated at the National Institute for Infectious Diseases (NIID). The Base Hospital at Welikande treats the highest number of patients, which is 70. The Iranawila Hospital is treating 34 COVID-19 patients.

A total of 39,734 persons have completed the quarantine program at centres managed by the armed forces to date, while 6,206 remain in quarantine at 59 centres.  Four hundred and ninety-eight persons were repatriated from Japan, Dubai and Doha, Saudi Arabia, and India yesterday, and were moved to quarantine centres after being subjected to PCR tests for COVID-19, the NOCPC said. Of them, 420 were repatriated from Dubai, 67 from Doha, 7 from Saudi Arabia, and 3 from Japan. (AF)