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Saturday Nov 23, 2024
Tuesday, 18 January 2022 01:40 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}
By Shailendree Wickrama Adittiya
Health officials state that 688 COVID-19 patients were detected yesterday, raising the country’s COVID-19 case count to 597,035.
The COVID-19 patients detected yesterday include 681 persons from the New Year cluster and seven overseas arrivals.
On Sunday, 684 persons from the New Year cluster, three persons from the Prisons cluster and three Sri Lankan overseas returnees tested positive for COVID-19. According to the Health Promotion Bureau, 6,997 PCR tests and 3,335 rapid antigen tests were conducted on Sunday.
The country’s total COVID-19 detections include 492,056 persons from the New Year cluster, 82,785 persons from the Peliyagoda cluster, 9,097 persons from the Prisons cluster and 3,059 persons from the Divulapitiya cluster.
The Epidemiology Unit states that 7,108 Sri Lankan overseas returnees and 328 foreigners have also tested positive for COVID-19.
The district distribution of COVID-19 patients records 120,031 persons from Colombo, 102,982 persons from Gampaha, 54,341 persons from Kalutara, 39,113 persons from Galle, and 28,874 persons from Kurunegala.
During the third wave of the pandemic, 87,734 persons from Colombo, 84,448 persons from Gampaha, and 47,283 persons from Kalutara tested positive for COVID-19.
At present, 13,444 persons are under medical or home-based care and 1,776 persons suspected of having COVID-19 are under observation.
The country’s COVID-19 recoveries rose to 568,373 with 163 persons released from care yesterday.
Meanwhile, health officials yesterday said guidelines have been prepared for the grade five scholarship and advanced level examinations, so that students who have contracted COVID-19 can also sit for the exam.
In terms of the grade five scholarship exam, 108 centres have been set up for students who are COVID-19 positive or are undergoing quarantine.
“The Health Ministry and the Education Ministry, especially the Examinations Department, have held discussions and prepared guidelines for the scholarship exam to be held next weekend. These have already been sent to examination centres,” Family Health Bureau Director Dr. Chithramalee de Silva said.
She added that special measures have been prepared for the advanced level examinations, as they will be held over a period of time. Certain hospitals will be used as examination centres so that students who are COVID-19 positive can sit for the exams from a treatment centre.
