Total COVID-19 count increases to 2,834

Wednesday, 5 August 2020 03:32 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

Six overseas returnees test positive
299 persons currently under medical care
Seven persons recover from COVID-19

Six overseas returnees tested positive for COVID-19 yesterday, bringing the total count of confirmed patients to 2,834.

While the Defence Ministry stated that 13 Sri Lankans from Qatar returned to the island on Monday, a total of 936 Sri Lankan returnees and 32 foreigners have tested positive for COVID-19 so far. The Epidemiology Unit states that 950 Navy personnel and their close contacts as well as 603 from the Kandakadu cluster have also tested positive.

A total of 299 persons are currently under medical care, including 141 at the Kandakadu Treatment Centre, 49 at the Welikanda Base Hospital, 37 at the Minuwangoda Base Hospital, and 23 at the National Institute of Infectious Diseases (NIID). There are a further 16 patients at the Iranawila Hospital, 12 at the Panagoda Army Hospital, 10 at the Kattankudy Base Hospital, and four at the Colombo East Base Hospital.

The Epidemiology Unit adds that seven persons recovered during the 24-hour period ending at 10 a.m. yesterday, including three from the NIID, two from the Minuwangoda Base Hospital, one from the Colombo East Base Hospital, and one from the Iranawila Hospital.

The total number of COVID-19 recoveries in the country has thus increased to 2,524 and the Health Promotion Bureau states that the country’s recovery rate is 89.06%. They add that 165,342 PCR tests have been carried out thus far, including 1,712 on Monday.

In addition to this, 69 persons suspected of having COVID-19 are being monitored at various hospitals. This includes 23 at the Kotelawala Defence University (KDU) Hospital and 13 at the Sri Jayewardenepura Hospital.

Over 30 persons were released from quarantine centres yesterday, having completed the quarantine process, and the Sri Lanka Air Force (SLAF) stated that 29 persons left the SLAF-managed centre in Vanni yesterday.

The Sri Lanka Navy (SLN) also issued a statement yesterday on SLN-managed quarantine centres, stating that nine persons left the centres in Boossa and Kalpitiya between 2 August and 4 August. According to the statement, five individuals left the Boossa Centre and 80 persons are currently undergoing quarantine at the centre.

The SLN added that four persons left the Kalpitiya Centre and 24 are currently undergoing quarantine at the centre.