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Over 1,000 persons tested positive for COVID-19 over the weekend, bringing the country’s total number of COVID-19 patients to 27,877.
The Divulapitiya and Peliyagoda dual COVID-19 cluster now includes a Prisons COVID-19 cluster as well and the Department of Government Information states that the cluster has expanded to 24,036.
This includes 649 patients detected yesterday, of which 451 belong to the Peliyagoda cluster and 197 belong to the Prisons cluster. The previous day, 669 persons tested positive for COVID-19. This includes 487 persons from the Peliyagoda cluster and 182 from the Prisons cluster.
Of the 669 patients detected on Saturday, 204 were from Colombo District, 170 were from Kandy, 111 were from Gampaha, 67 were from Kalutara, and 21 were from Galle. The COVID-19 patients detected from Kandy include 147 persons from the Bogambara Prison and the patients detected from Gampaha include 36 persons from the Mahara Prison.
A total of 2,051 COVID-19 patients, including 91 officers, have been identified from prisons and 562 inmates and 38 officers have recovered to date.
Due to the spread of COVID-19 in congested prisons, arrangements are being made to release all inmates who can be granted bail or can be released. “Prior to sending them home, they will be subjected to required PCR and rapid antigen testing, after which, infected persons will be directed to hospitals or intermediary treatment centres and will only be sent home after they recover,” Chief Epidemiologist Dr. Sudath Samaraweera said.
He added that inmates who do not test positive for COVID-19 will be required to undergo home-quarantine and will be monitored by the Police, medical officers of health, and public health inspectors of the area.
According to the Epidemiology Unit, 10,866 persons from Colombo District have tested positive for the virus to date, along with 6,464 persons from Gampaha District, 1,294 persons from Kalutara District, and 505 persons from Kandy District.
Regional Health Services Director General for Kandy Dr. Senaka Thalagala in a letter dated 6 December clarified that despite reports of 100 to 200 COVID-19 positive persons detected from Kandy District in the previous two days, only six patients were identified on 4 December and 18 patients on 5 December.
He stressed that such reports could cause unnecessary panic among persons from the district.
According to the situation reports published by the Epidemiology Unit, the district total for Kandy was 452 on Friday, 502 on Saturday, and 505 yesterday.
The Epidemiology Unit also states that the number of patients currently receiving treatment for COVID-19 is 7,280. This includes 595 persons at the Punani Treatment Centre, 518 persons at the Bingiriya Treatment Centre, and 471 persons at the Kandakadu Treatment Centre. A total of 61 COVID-19 treatment centres have been established in the country to date. Hospitals are also monitoring 461 persons suspected of having COVID-19.
With seven COVID-19 deaths confirmed on Saturday, the country’s total COVID-19 death toll has increased to 137.
According to the Epidemiology Unit, 370 persons, including 95 persons from the Kopai Treatment Centre, were discharged from hospitals yesterday and a total of 20,460 persons have recovered from COVID-19 to date.
The National Operations Centre for the Prevention of COVID-19 Outbreak (NOCPCO) stated that 6,730 persons are undergoing quarantine at 61 centres. They added that 161 overseas arrivals were directed for quarantine yesterday, including 51 persons from Japan, 41 persons from Qatar, 36 persons from Australia, and 33 persons from Dubai.
Meanwhile, the Health Promotion Bureau stated that 903,280 PCR tests have been carried out in the island, including 14,125 tests on Saturday. This is the highest number of PCR tests carried out in a day in Sri Lanka.
