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The total number of confirmed COVID-19 cases in the country rose to 2,154 with the identification of 60 new patients yesterday.
Of the new patients, 57 tested positive when inmates and staff at the Kandakadu Treatment and Rehabilitation Centre were subjected to PCR tests yesterday, after an inmate transferred to the Welikada Prison tested positive for COVID-19 on 7 July.
None of the other inmates nor prison officials at the Welikada Prison have tested positive so far.
Addressing the press, Army Commander Lt. Gen. Shavendra Silva stated that one individual who tested positive from the Treatment and Rehabilitation Centre in Kandakadu was a counsellor on leave.
A resident of Marawila, the individual’s family has been quarantined and subjected to PCR tests.
Lt. Gen. Silva added that the remaining 56 patients were at the centre, and there was no chance of community spread through them. However, eight counsellors on leave are being brought back.
“The number of patients at the Kandakadu Centre may increase as results are released, but the President and Prime Minister have advised that we take all possible measures to prevent community spread,” he added.
The health authorities are also investigating the possibility of infection through persons directed to the rehabilitation centre last month, despite them testing negative for COVID-19 during admission.
The Department of Government Information also issued a statement on the incident, explaining that the individual who tested positive at the Welikada Prison was at the rehabilitation centre for a period of three months.
A total of 450 persons at the Centre have been subjected to PCR tests so far, and health authorities will continue measures to test and quarantine individuals in the coming days.
With the exception of the new cases, the total confirmed COVID-19 cases in the country include 949 Navy personnel and their close contacts, 800 Sri Lankan returnees from aboard, and 31 foreign arrivals.
The Epidemiology Unit stated that the number of active cases in the country has risen to 164. Of these, 27 are at the Welikanda Base Hospital, 23 are at the Kattankudy Base Hospital, 16 are at the National Institute of Infectious Diseases (NIID), and 14 are at the Minuwangoda Base Hospital.
The Epidemiology Unit added that 12 persons were discharged having recovered from COVID-19 in the 24-hour period ending at 10 a.m. yesterday, including five each from the Welikanda Base Hospital and the Minuwangoda Base Hospital, and one each from the Kattankudy Base Hospital and the Teldeniya Base Hospital.
The total number of recoveries in the country has thus risen to 1,979, and this includes 894 Navy personnel. The Sri Lanka Navy yesterday stated that with two recoveries on 8 July, the number of Navy personnel to have recovered from COVID-19 increased slightly, and that all Navy personnel will be required to undergo a 14-day quarantine after being discharged.
In addition to this, 45 suspect patients are under investigation at various hospitals, including 13 at the Kotelawala Defence University (KDU) Hospital.
