Saturday Nov 23, 2024
Saturday Nov 23, 2024
Thursday, 16 December 2021 00:15 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}
By Shailendree Wickrama Adittiya
Sri Lanka’s COVID-19 case count rose to 576,966 with the detection of 772 COVID-19 patients yesterday.
According to Health Services Director General Dr. Asela Gunawardena, authorities do not expect to make any significant changes to safety regulations currently in place.
“We expect to extend the current guidelines instead of issuing new restrictions. We request the public to get the booster dose as soon as possible from the closest hospital, Medical Officer of Health (MOH) office, or vaccination centre as it has been decided to administer the booster dose to all persons over 20,” Dr. Gunawardena said.
He added that a low turnout was seen for the booster dose and stressed it was important for the public to get the third dose, especially given the festive season.
The Department of Government Information states that patients detected yesterday include 770 persons from the New Year cluster and two overseas arrivals. According to the Health Promotion Bureau, 8,497 PCR tests were conducted yesterday.
The previous day, 7,029 PCR tests and 4,183 rapid antigen tests were carried out. The COVID-19 patients detected on Tuesday include 760 persons from the New Year cluster and two Sri Lankan overseas arrivals.
According to the Epidemiology Unit, 472,045 patients from the New Year cluster, 82,785 patients from the Peliyagoda cluster, 9,060 patients from the Prisons cluster, and 3,059 patients from the Divulapitiya cluster have been detected.
The country’s imported cases include 7,003 Sri Lankan overseas arrivals and 328 foreigners.
According to the district distribution of COVID-19 detections published by the Epidemiology Unit, 116,286 persons from Colombo, 99,886 persons from Gampaha, 53,472 persons from Kalutara, 36,848 persons from Galle, and 28,179 persons from Kurunegala have tested positive for COVID-19.
During the third wave of the pandemic, 83,989 patients from Colombo, 81,352 patients from Gampaha, and 46,414 patients from Kalutara have been detected.
At present, 16,186 persons are under medical or home-based care and 2,577 persons suspected of having COVID-19 are under observation.
The Epidemiology Unit states that 335 persons were released from care yesterday, raising the country’s COVID-19 recoveries to 546,103. An Extraordinary Gazette was published on 13 December on the regulations applicable during the Sri Pada Pilgrimage season, which will commence on 18 December and end on 16 May 2022.
According to the Extraordinary Gazette, pilgrims are required to keep their vaccination cards or a copy with them throughout the journey. They must also wear face masks and adhere to safety guidelines. Pilgrims will not be permitted to remain on the Sri Pada Compound.
Local Government authorities have been assigned the task of disinfecting railings along the route.
