517 persons test positive for COVID-19

• Total patient count rises to 78,937, includes 5,941 active patients
• Over 27,000 patients detected from Colombo District to date
• Recoveries rise to 72,556, over 700 persons discharged

By Shailendree Wickrama Adittiya

Five hundred and seventeen persons tested positive for COVID-19 yesterday, bringing the total number of COVID-19 patients detected in the island to 78,937.

According to the Department of Government Information, of the 517 persons, 506 were associates of the Peliyagoda COVID-19 cluster and the triple clusters that emerged from Divulapitiya, Peliyagoda and Prisons currently stand at 74,877 patients.

The total patient count also includes 1,985 Sri Lankan returnees from abroad, 950 Navy personnel and their contacts, 651 persons linked to the Kandakadu cluster, and 150 foreigners.

According to the Epidemiology Unit, over 27,000 COVID-19 patients have been detected from the Colombo District to date. The district distribution shows 27,085 patients from Colombo, 15,813 patients from Gampaha, 5,788 patients from Kalutara, 3,611 patients from Kandy, and 2,071 patients from Kurunegala.

The district distribution includes the 514 patients detected on Thursday, of which 105 were from Colombo, 68 were from Gampaha, 68 were from Kandy, 51 were from Ratnapura, and 51 were from Kalutara.

The patients detected from Colombo District on Thursday include 28 from Homagama, nine from Kottawa, and eight from Piliyandala.

According to the Health Promotion Bureau, 15,554 PCR tests were performed on Thursday.

There are currently 5,941 COVID-19 positive persons under medical care. This includes 318 persons at the Giriulla Treatment Centre, 309 persons at the Bingiriya Treatment Centre, and 265 persons at the Neville Fernando Teaching Hospital. Hospitals are also monitoring 627 persons suspected of having COVID-19. Deputy Director General of Health Services Dr. Hemantha Herath yesterday said 27 COVID-19 patients are currently receiving treatment at intensive care units. “At present, 84 treatment centres are in operation with 12,559 beds prepared for patients. Of these, 7,033 are currently in use,” he added.

The Epidemiology Unit states that 72,566 persons have recovered from the virus to date, with 101 persons from the Bingiriya Treatment Centre, 72 persons from the Giriulla Treatment Centre, and 71 persons from the Dambadeniya Treatment Centre among persons discharged yesterday.