Total COVID-19 cases rise to 1,877 with eight new cases

• Eight persons tested positive for COVID-19 yesterday
• Total confirmed cases rise to 1,877
• 716 patients still under medical care
• Over 81,000 PCR tests carried out
• 28 persons recovered yesterday

 

By Shailendree Wickrama Adittiya

Eight persons tested positive for COVID-19 yesterday, increasing the total number of confirmed cases in the country to 1,877.

According to the Epidemiology Unit, 874 Navy personnel have tested positive so far, while 597 of the total cases have been identified among overseas arrivals at quarantine centres, and 71 among local communities at quarantine centres.

Among those who tested positive for COVID-19 are 911 Navy personnel and their close contacts, 642 Sri Lankan returnees from abroad, and 313 other local cases. The Epidemiology Unit also states that eight of the 10 patients identified on Wednesday were Navy personnel and their close contacts, and the remaining two were returnees from abroad and their close contacts.

There are currently 716 persons under medical care at various hospitals, including 127 at the National Institute of Infectious Diseases (NIID), 107 at the Hambanthota District General Hospital, and 95 each at the Welikanda Base Hospital, Kattankudy Base Hospital, and Teldeniya Base Hospital.

There are 47 COVID-19 patients at the Homagama Base Hospital, 46 at the Welisara Navy Hospital, 46 at the Minuwangoda Base Hospital, 28 at the Iranawila Hospital, 18 at the Colombo East Base Hospital, and four at the Panagoda Army Hospital.

In addition to this, 51 suspect patients are under investigation at several hospitals, including 15 at the Kotelawala Defence University (KDU) Hospital and 10 at the Sri Jayewardenepura Hospital.

The Health Promotion Bureau stated that the last COVID-19 patient from the community was identified on 30 April and that 81,735 PCR tests have been conducted in the country. This includes 1,433 carried out on Wednesday.

The number of recoveries has increased to 1,150 and 28 persons were discharged from various treatment facilities yesterday. This includes 10 from the Welikanda Base Hospital, seven from the NIID, six from the Welisara Navy Hospital, two from the Homagama Base Hospital, and one each from the Iranawila Hospital, Kattankudy Base Hospital, and the Minuwangoda Base Hospital. The Defence Ministry stated that 637 Navy personnel had recovered from COVID-19 so far. All Navy personnel discharged from treatment facilities will be required to remain under quarantine for an additional 14 days.

The Ministry added that the number of persons who left quarantine centres having completed the quarantine process was 12,533, while a further 5,060 persons were yet to complete the process.