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Tuesday, 25 January 2022 01:45 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}
By Shailendree Wickrama Adittiya
Sri Lanka’s COVID-19 detections rose to 602,763 with 877 persons testing positive for COVID-19 yesterday.
The patients detected yesterday include 869 persons from the New Year cluster and eight overseas arrivals.
The previous day, 837 persons from the New Year cluster and one Sri Lankan overseas arrivals tested positive for COVID-19. The Health Promotion Bureau states that 6,774 PCR tests and 5,582 rapid antigen tests were conducted on Sunday.
Daily COVID-19 detections have remained above 800 for six consecutive days and health officials are warning of rising numbers.
According to the National Hospital of Sri Lanka Deputy Director Dr. Chandana Gajanayake, the number of COVID-19 patients as well as the number of patients depending on oxygen have increased. He added that the hospital has had to reduce priority given to general surgeries and shift focus to COVID-19 treatment instead.
Meanwhile, All Ceylon Nurses Union General Secretary H.M.S.B. Mediwatte said 62 nurses at the National Hospital of Sri Lanka have contracted COVID-19.
“The situation at the National Hospital of Sri Lanka, which was limited to a single COVID-19 ward as of 3 January, has now expanded to seven COVID-19 wards,” he added.
Sri Lanka’s total COVID-19 case count includes 497,559 persons from the New Year cluster, 82,785 persons from the Peliyagoda cluster, 9,098 persons from Prisons cluster, and 3,059 persons from the Divulapitiya cluster.
In addition to this, 7,143 Sri Lankan overseas arrivals and 328 foreigners have tested positive for COVID-19.
According to the Epidemiology Unit, 121,745 patients from Colombo, 103,791 patients from Gampaha, 54,647 patients from Kalutara, 39,663 patients from Galle, and 29,007 patients from Kurunegala have been detected.
During the third wave of the pandemic, 89,448 persons from Colombo, 85,257 persons from Gampaha, and 47,589 persons from Kalutara tested positive for COVID-19.
At present, 11,126 persons are under medical or home-based care and 2,335 persons suspected of having COVID-19 are under observation.
The Epidemiology Unit states that 210 persons were released from care yesterday, raising the country’s COVID-19 recoveries to 576,324.
