Four new COVID-19 patients as Govt. removes curfew

• Total number of confirmed cases reach 2,037
• NOCPC says 20 patients discharged after recovering, 363 remain in care
• Curfew completely lifted after more than three months
• Six return home from quarantine, 5,153 remain in 48 centres
• 316 repatriated from Belarus and Hong Kong

four persons tested positive for COVID-19 yesterday, raising the total number of confirmed cases at 2,037 as the Government announced a complete removal of the curfew, which has been in place in varying forms since 20 March. 

The National Operations Centre for the Prevention of COVID-19 (NOCPC) in a press release said that 20 persons, 10 who were recently repatriated and 10 Sailors, recovered from COVID-19 and were discharged from care. However, the Health Promotion Bureau did not report the release of patients who recovered from the virus, keeping the total of those recovered at 1661.

According to the Epidemiology Unit of the Ministry of Health, 365 patients, including 26 foreign nationals, remain under care at 11 specialised hospitals as of last evening. A total of 11 patients have succumbed to the virus. 51 patients suspected to have COVID-19 symptoms are under observation of health authorities, the Health Promotion Bureau said. 

Of the 364 patients under treatment, 41 including four foreign nationals are being treated at the National Institute for Infectious Diseases (NIID). The Base Hospital Hambantota treat the highest number of patients – 79, with the Welikanda Base Hospital treating 79 patients. 

The Kattankudy Base Hospital and the Theldeniya Base Hospital are each treating 45 and 46 COVID-19 patients respectively.

Six persons were released from quarantine yesterday after they tested negative for COVID-19 PCR tests and completed the mandated quarantine program the NOCPC said. A total of 5,153 persons remain in quarantine in 48 centres managed by the military. A total of 16,978 persons have completed the quarantine program and returned home from centres across the island thus far. 

316 Sri Lankans were repatriated from Belarus and Hong Kong yesterday on two SriLankan Airlines flights and were moved in to quarantine after being subjected to PCR tests for COVID-19. According to the Epidemiology Unit, 687 repatriated Sri Lankans have tested positive for the virus since 22 April.