4 returnees from Pakistan test positive for COVID-19

Four persons arriving from Pakistan have tested positive for COVID-19, raising the cumulative total in Sri Lanka to 2,014

That new cases apart, there were no reports of infected patients recovering from the virus and being discharged yesterday, keeping the total of those recovered at 1,619. 

According to the Epidemiology Unit of the Ministry of Health, 380 patients remain under care at 11 specialised hospitals as of last evening. Eleven patients have succumbed to the virus. 

Thirty-six patients suspected to have COVID-19 symptoms are under observation of health authorities the Health Promotion Bureau said. 

Of the 380 patients under treatment, 36, including four foreign nationals, are at the National Institute for Infectious Diseases (NIID). The Base Hospital Hambantota is treating the highest number of patients at 77, with the Welikande Base Hospital treating 73 patients. 

The Kattankudy Base Hospital and the Teldeniya Base Hospital are each treating 52 and 50 COVID-19 patients, respectively.  The Government is planning to approve partial reopening of preschools, pending health guidelines from the Director – Health Services, Health Minister Pavithra Wanniarachchi told a group of preschool teachers in Eheliyagoda yesterday. 

The National Operations Centre for the Prevention of COVID-19 (NOCPC) did not release a report on COVID-19 patients or those in quarantine yesterday.