COVID-19 recoveries rise to 559

• 21 more persons recover from COVID-19
• 10 new cases reported with total cumulative cases up at 991 
• Over 59,000 arrested since curfew first imposed

By Shailendree Wickrama Adittiya

The total number of COVID-19 recoveries in the country has risen to 559 with 21 persons recovering from the virus yesterday whilst 10 new positive cases emerged.

The Epidemiology Unit reported that seven persons from the National Institute of Infectious Diseases (NIID), five each from the Navy Hospital and the Homagama Base Hospital, and four from the Colombo East Base Hospital, were discharged having recovered from COVID-19.

Ten new positive cases were identified yesterday pushing the cumulative COVID-19 figure to 991 in the country. Among them are over 540 from the Navy and 12 are from other forces.

A total of 68 persons among local communities at quarantine centres and 48 persons among overseas arrivals at quarantine have tested positive for COVID-19. The district distribution of confirmed cases show that 150 from the Colombo District, 36 from Gampaha, and 35 from Puttalam have tested positive.

The number of active cases in the country is 428, of which 202 are receiving treatment at the Navy Hospital, 99 at the NIID, and 56 at the Colombo East Base Hospital. A further 34 persons are at the Welikanda Base Hospital, 16 at the Homagama Base Hospital, five at the Iranawila Hospital, and one at the Kattankudy Base Hospital.

Since 22 April, 683 COVID-19 cases have been identified and 576 are Navy personnel and their close contacts.

In addition to this, 149 suspect patients are under investigation at several hospitals, including 48 at the Navy Hospital, 19 at the Sri Jayewardenepura Hospital, and 18 at the Kotelawala Defence University (KDU) Hospital.

A total of 44,391 PCR tests have been carried out so far.

In order to contain the spread of COVID-19 in the country, curfew continues to be enforced in the Colombo and Gampaha Districts while islandwide curfew was imposed on Sunday. According to the Sri Lanka Police, 2,709 persons and 946 vehicles were taken into custody over curfew violations during the 24-hour period ending at 6 a.m. yesterday.

Curfew was first imposed on 20 March and since then, 59,035 persons and 16,436 vehicles have been taken into custody. In a statement issued yesterday, the Sri Lanka Police added that legal action has been taken against 15,695 persons and 5,660 persons have received sentencing.