Total COVID-19 cases increase by 25

• Total recoveries rose to 2,593
• Over 260 active cases

The total number of COVID-19 cases increased to 2,869 with the identification of 25 new cases.

Of the patients identified on Sunday, one is a returnee from India who was undergoing quarantine in Koggala and two persons were from the Senapura Treatment and Rehabilitation Centre. According to the Epidemiology Unit, the total number of cases connected to the Kandakadu cluster has exceeded 600.

The Department of Government Information stated that this includes 485 detainees, 67 staff members, five guest staff, 48 families and close contacts, and the individual who tested positive from the Welikada Prison.

While 950 of the remaining local cases are Navy personnel and their close contacts, 942 Sri Lankan returnees from abroad and 32 foreigners have also tested positive so far.

The Epidemiology Unit states that 14 persons were discharged from various hospitals yesterday, having recovered from COVID-19. Of the latest recoveries, two were detainees of the Kandakadu Treatment and Rehabilitation Centre and one was a staff member of the centre.

Of the 14 recoveries, 10 were discharged from the Minuwangoda Base Hospital, two were discharged from the Iranawila hospital, and two were discharged from the Panagoda Army Hospital. The total number of recoveries in the island has risen to 2,593 and the Health Promotion Bureau states that the country’s recovery rate is 91.17%. With 11 COVID-19-related deaths, Sri Lanka’s fatality rate is 0.39%.

The Health Promotion Bureau adds that 172,972 PCR tests have been carried out so far. This includes 1,803 tests carried out on Sunday.

The number of active cases has risen to 263, with the majority of the patients receiving treatment at the Kandakadu Treatment Centre. According to the Epidemiology Unit, 130 persons are currently receiving treatment at the centre, while 45 persons are at the Welikanda Base Hospital and 31 persons are at the Minuwangoda Base Hospital.

The National Institute of Infectious Diseases (NIID) is currently treating 18 persons, the Iranawila Hospital is treating 10, the Panagoda Army Hospital is treating five, and the Colombo East Base Hospital is treat one COVID-19 patient.  In addition to this, 70 persons suspected of having COVID-19 are currently being monitored at various hospitals, including 19 at the Kotelawala Defence University (KDU) Hospital, 17 at the Sri Jayewardenepura Hospital, and seven at the Chilaw General Hospital.

According to the Department of Government Information, 14 persons left quarantine centres managed by the Sri Lanka Army, including ten from Nipuna Boossa and four from Rajagiriya. As of yesterday, a total of 29,729 persons have left quarantine centres in the country, while 3,025 persons remain in 36 centres.

In terms of repatriation efforts, 36 persons returned from Chennai yesterday, in addition from 28 persons from Doha and 148 from Japan.