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Saturday Nov 23, 2024
Tuesday, 16 November 2021 02:50 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}
By Shailendree Wickrama Adittiya
Sri Lanka’s COVID-19 detections rose to 552,274 with 732 persons testing positive for COVID-19 yesterday.
The patients detected yesterday include 731 persons from the New Year cluster and one overseas arrival.
On Sunday, 697 persons tested positive for COVID-19 and the detections include 695 persons from the New Year cluster and two Sri Lankan overseas arrivals. The Health Promotion Bureau states that 6,223 PCR tests and 3,111 rapid antigen tests were performed on Wednesday. The Epidemiology Unit states that 447,437 patients have been detected from the New Year cluster, 82,785 patients have been detected from the Peliyagoda cluster, 9,053 patients have been detected from the Prisons cluster, and 3,059 patients have been detected from the Divulapitiya cluster.
In addition to this, 6,966 Sri Lankan overseas arrivals and 328 foreigners have also tested positive for COVID-19 in the country.
COVID-19 patients detected in the country include 113,997 persons from Colombo, 96,989 persons from Gampaha, 52,429 persons from Kalutara, 34,458 persons from Galle, and 26,713 persons from Kurunegala.
During the third wave of the pandemic, 81,700 persons from Colombo, 78,455 persons from Gampaha, and 45,371 persons from Kalutara tested positive for COVID-19.
The Epidemiology Unit states that 382 persons were released from care yesterday, raising the country’s COVID-19 recoveries to 524,311.
At present, 13,947 persons are under medical or home-based care 1,995 persons suspected of having COVID-19 are under observation.
According to Pharmaceutical Production, Supply and Regulation State Minister Channa Jayasumana, Molnupiravir, a COVID-19 antiviral pill, has been approved for use in Sri Lanka by the COVID-19 Technical committee.
The pill was developed by Ridgeback Biotherapeutics and Merck, Sharp and Dohme (MSD) and is the first oral antiviral pill for COVID-19 approved for use.
According to Health Services Director General Dr. Asela Gunawardena, formal approval from the National Medicines Regulatory Authority (NMRA) was required before health officials could proceed with the use of this pill in COVID-19 treatment in Sri Lanka.
