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PCR Test - Pic by Shehan Gunasekara
By Shailendree Wickrama Adittiya
The dual COVID-19 cluster that emerged from Divulapitiya and Peliyagoda expanded to 18,963 cases with the detection of 472 new patients yesterday.
According to a statement issued by the Department of Government Information, the patients were associates of the Peliyagoda COVID-19 cluster. Additionally, a Sri Lankan returnee had also tested positive for COVID-19 while in quarantine.
In addition to the dual COVID-19 cluster, the country’s total case count includes 1,508 Sri Lankan returnees from abroad, 950 Navy personnel and their contacts, 651 persons connected to the Kandakadu cluster and 117 foreigners.
This brings the total count to 22,501, of which 6,168 are active cases. The Epidemiology Unit states that of those receiving treatment, 674 persons are at the Punani Treatment Centre, 352 persons are at the Bingiriya Treatment Centre, 328 persons are at the Neville Fernando Hospital and 312 persons are at the Kandakadu Treatment Centre. Hospitals are also monitoring 725 persons suspected of having COVID-19.
The Epidemiology Unit adds that 410 persons were discharged from treatment centres yesterday, including 102 from the Bingiriya Treatment Centre, 22 from the Lunawa District Hospital, 20 from the Neville Fernando Hospital and 19 from the Iranawila Hospital. The total number of COVID-19 recoveries currently stands at 16,226.
According to the Health Promotion Bureau, 790,896 PCR tests have been carried out in the island to date, including 13,286 tests on Thursday.
In terms of the district distribution of cases, a total of 8,228 cases have been identified from the Colombo District to date. Of the 559 cases identified on Thursday, 253 were detected from Colombo District. The cases include 50 from Dematagoda, 40 from Grandpass, 39 from Bloumendhal /Kotahena and 22 from Borella.
The number of COVID-19 patients identified from the Gampaha District is 5,603, of which 66 were identified on Thursday. These cases include 20 from Wattala, nine from Kandana and eight from Seeduwa.
Health authorities also identified 34 COVID-19 patients from Kalutara, 33 patients from Ratnapura and 31 patients from Ampara on Thursday. In terms of overall district distribution of cases, 931 have been identified from Kalutara, 335 from Kandy and 300 from Kurunegala.
Meanwhile, the National Operations Centre for the Prevention of the COVID-19 Outbreak (NOCPCO) yesterday stated that 5,114 persons are currently undergoing quarantine in 47 centres managed by the Sri Lanka Army, Sri Lanka Navy and Sri Lanka Air Force.
The NOCPCO added that over 380 Sri Lankans returned to the island yesterday. This includes 191 persons from Australia, 75 persons from Italy, 52 persons from Dubai, 50 persons from Qatar and 12 persons from Japan.
The Health Ministry yesterday stated that the government of Switzerland and the International Organisation for Migration (IOM) donated an automatic reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) machine and 30,000 test kits to Sri Lanka in order to facilitate the safe return of migrant workers. The project cost exceeded Rs. 150 million, according to the Health Ministry.
The RT-PCR machine will be set up at the Bandaranaike International Airport and has a capacity of 1,300 daily tests in a three-hour period. This will significantly increase the country’s testing capacity.
Meanwhile, the Sri Lanka Bureau of Foreign Employment (SLBFE) yesterday stated that 60 migrant workers left for Saudi Arabia last night, with a total of 180 persons in the first group of migrant workers headed to Saudi Arabia after operations were suspended due to COVID-19. The group will be employed in the hospitality industry.
The decision was taken in order to solve issues faced by job seekers and is a result of discussions held between Foreign Employment Promotion and Market Diversification State Minister Piyankara Jayaratne, SLBFE Chairman Kamal Ratwatte and licensed agencies.
