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Wednesday, 3 February 2021 00:30 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}
By Shailendree Wickrama Adittiya
A total of 715 COVID-19 patients were detected yesterday, bringing the total number of persons to have tested positive for COVID-19 in the island to 65,698.
According to the Department of Government Information, all patients detected yesterday were associates of the Peliyagoda COVID-19 cluster. The Divulapitiya, Peliyagoda, and Prisons triple clusters have thus risen to 61,705.
The total patient count also includes 1,929 Sri Lankan returnees from abroad, 950 Navy personnel and their close contacts, 651 persons linked to the Kandakadu cluster, and 150 foreigners.
According to the Epidemiology Unit, 23,815 persons from Colombo District, 13,097 persons from Gampaha District, 4,467 persons from Kalutara District, 2,497 persons from Kandy District, and 1,407 persons from Galle District have tested positive for COVID-19 to date.
The district distribution of COVID-19 patients includes the 826 persons who tested positive for the virus on Monday, of which 212 are from Colombo, 132 are from Gampaha, 131 are from Kandy, 78 are from Kurunegala, and 62 are from Kalutara.
The patients detected from Colombo include 18 persons from the Colombo Municipal Council area, 12 persons from Colombo 12, and 10 persons from Moratuwa.
Of the total patient count, 6,325 persons are currently under medical care. This includes 388 persons at the Bingiriya Treatment Centre, 343 persons at the Giriulla Treatment Centre, 336 persons at the Neville Fernando Teaching Hospital, and 312 persons at the Dambadeniya Treatment Centre. Hospitals are also monitoring 1,248 persons suspected of having COVID-19.
The Epidemiology Unit adds that 59,043 persons have recovered from COVID-19 to date. Among yesterday’s recoveries are 71 persons from the Dambadeniya Treatment Centre, 67 persons from the Bingiriya Treatment Centre, and 65 persons from the Giriulla Treatment Centre.
Meanwhile, the Health Promotion Bureau states that 1,734,276 PCR tests have been carried out to date, including 12,340 tests performed on Monday.
According to Police Spokesperson DIG Ajith Rohana, drivers, conductors and assistants of school transportation services will be subjected to rapid antigen tests in order to identify any patients among the community and separate them from the rest of society and prevent the further spread of the virus.“A special operation is conducted in respect of the school transportation including school vans, in order to check whether they have adhered to quarantine rules and regulations whilst transporting school children. We have instructed our traffic police officers to deal with the operation,” he said, adding that focus will be drawn to ensuring school children wear face masks at all times and adhere to other guidelines as well.
DIG Ajith Rohana added that 840 establishments in the Western Province were inspected on Monday and 795 were found to be adhering to safety guidelines while 45 were not.
A total of 10,335 institutions have been examined since the operation was launched on 10 January and 1,268 institutions were found to be not adhering to safety guidelines. Legal action has been taken against the management of 1,100 such establishments.
