Tuesday Apr 23, 2024
Tuesday Apr 23, 2024
Wednesday, 12 May 2021 00:00 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}
By Shailendree
Wickrama Adittiya
Health officials yesterday stated that 2,530 persons tested positive for COVID-19, bringing the country’s total patient count to 131,060.
The patients detected yesterday are all persons linked to the New Year Cluster and the Divulapitiya, Peliyagoda, Prisons, and New Year clusters have expanded to 124,976 patients.
This includes 82,785 persons from the Peliyagoda cluster, 31,616 persons from the New Year cluster, 4,986 persons from the Prisons cluster, and 3,059 persons from the Divulapitiya cluster. The Epidemiology Unit states that 3,855 Sri Lankan returnees from abroad and 315 foreigners have also tested positive for COVID-19 to date.
The district distribution of COVID-19 patients shows 38,017 persons from Colombo, 23,579 persons from Gampaha, 10,231 persons from Kalutara, 5,857 persons from Kurunegala, and 5,398 persons from Kandy.
This includes the 2,624 persons who tested positive for COVID-19 on Monday, of which 551 were from Gampaha, 362 were from Kalutara, 321 were from Colombo, 184 were from Nuwara Eliya, and 177 were from Kurunegala.
At present, 23,569 persons are under medical care, including 545 persons at the Punani Treatment Centre, 512 persons at the Bingiriya Treatment Centre, and 508 persons at the Neville Fernando Teaching Hospital.
The Epidemiology Unit states that 1,609 persons suspected of having COVID-19 are currently under observation at various hospitals.
Hospitals yesterday discharged 1,030 persons who recovered from the virus. This includes 87 persons from the Bingiriya Treatment Centre, 86 persons from the Punani Treatment Centre, and 68 persons from the Rambukkana Treatment Centre. The country’s total number of COVID-19 recoveries has risen to 106,641.
According to the Health Promotion Bureau, 23,808 PCR tests were performed on Monday.
The Sri Lanka Navy yesterday said it was in the process of establishing a 2,000-bed intermediate care centre for COVID-19 treatment in Werellawatta, Gampaha. The intermediate care centre is being established in a closed down factory and the conversion commenced on 2 May.
An intermediate care centre with 200 beds was also established at the Boossa Naval Base on 4 May and improvements will also be made to the Balapitiya Base Hospital.
In addition to this, the Sri Lanka Navy is expanding three wards in the Gampaha General Hospital making 50 beds available for COVID-19 treatment as well as two wards in the Minuwangoda Base Hospital making 35 beds available for COVID-19 treatment.
A ward with 20 beds has been established with the construction of three semi-permanent buildings at the Wathupitiwela Base Hospital and the hospital will also be able to carry out PCR tests and provide healthcare workers with necessary facilities.
