629 persons test positive for COVID-19

• Public urged to get booster dose as protection against Omicron variant
• PHIs say there are signs of Omicron spread in most areas
• Total COVID-19 detections rise to 588,929
• 12,603 persons under medical or home-based care

 

By Shailendree 

Wickrama Adittiya

A slight increase in daily COVID-19 detections was seen yesterday with 629 persons testing positive for COVID-19.

Daily COVID-19 detections have remained below 500 since 26 December, when 398 COVID-19 patients were detected.

According to the Department of Government Information, 620 persons from the New Year cluster and nine overseas arrivals tested positive for COVID-19 yesterday.

On Monday, 359 persons from the New Year cluster and six Sri Lankan overseas arrivals tested positive for COVID-19. The Health Promotion Bureau states that 6,652 PCR tests and 2,050 rapid antigen tests were conducted on Monday.

Health officials warn that Omicron could become the dominant variant in Sri Lanka. “In future, 100% of a sample could be of the Omicron variant. We ask the public to get the third dose as soon as possible for their own protection,” Deputy Director of Health Services Dr. Hemantha Herath said.

Echoing his views about the booster dose, Public Health Inspectors’ Union President Upul Rohana said most people who are severely affected by the Omicron variant are those who are unvaccinated or who have only received the first dose or first two doses of a COVID-19 vaccine. He thus urged the public to get all vaccine doses they are eligible for.

“Omicron patients were detected from various parts of the island this week. This is an indication that the Omicron variant has spread widely in most areas. In two weeks’ time, a large number of persons will contract this disease,” Upul Rohana added.

In total, 588,929 persons have tested positive for COVID-19. This includes 484,105 persons from the New Year cluster, 82,785 persons from the Peliyagoda cluster, 9,068 persons from the Prisons cluster and 3,059 persons from the Divulapitiya cluster.

In terms of imported cases, 7,041 Sri Lankan overseas returnees and 328 foreigners have tested positive for COVID-19.

The district distribution of COVID-19 detections shows 117,847 patients from Colombo, 101,738 patients from Gampaha, 53,928 patients from Kalutara, 38,425 patients from Galle, and 28,731 patients from Kurunegala.

During the third wave of the pandemic, 85,550 persons from Colombo, 83,204 persons from Gampaha, and 46,870 persons from Kalutara tested positive for COVID-19.

At present, 12,603 persons are under medical or home-based care and 2,406 persons suspected of having COVID-19 are under observation.

The country’s COVID-19 recoveries rose to 561,271 with 143 persons released from care yesterday.