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Friday, 25 December 2020 01:05 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}
By Shailendree Wickrama Adittiya
The detection of 592 COVID-19 patients yesterday brought the country’s total number of COVID-19 patients to 39,235.
According to the Department of Government Information, 570 associates of the Peliyagoda cluster, four overseas arrivals, and 18 persons linked to the Prisons cluster tested positive for COVID-19 yesterday.
The triple clusters that emerged from Divulapitiya, Peliyagoda and Prisons have thus increased to 35,548 patients.
The total count also includes 1,644 Sri Lankan overseas returnees, 950 Navy personnel and their contacts, 651 persons linked to the Kandakadu cluster, and 126 foreigners.
The Epidemiology Unit states that 8,478 persons are currently receiving treatment for COVID-19. This includes 599 persons at the Punani Treatment Centre, 484 persons at the Bingiriya Treatment Centre, and 442 persons at the Neville Fernando Hospital.
A total of 462 persons suspected of having COVID-19 are currently under observation at various hospitals.
According to the Epidemiology Unit, 30,568 persons have recovered from the virus. This includes 90 persons from the Punani Treatment Centre, 51 persons from the Dambadeniya Treatment Centre, and 46 persons from the Weligama Treatment Centre discharged yesterday.
The Epidemiology Unit adds that 16,012 persons from the Colombo District, 8,215 persons from the Gampaha District, and 2,638 persons from the Kalutara District have tested positive for COVID-19 to date. The district distribution of patients also records 1,119 patients from Kandy, 595 patients from Kalmunai, and 530 patients from Kurunegala.
While 580 persons tested positive for COVID-19 on Wednesday, 228 persons were from Colombo District, 108 were from Gampaha, 68 were from Kalutara, and 40 were from Kandy. Health Services Deputy Director Dr. Hemantha Herath yesterday said the overall number of patients detected in the island has been stabilised, which is important. “If we get public coordination to the maximum and this continues, we may be able to control clusters within the area,” Dr. Herath added.
Meanwhile, Chief Epidemiologist Dr. Sudath Samaraweera said 24 COVID-19 patients were detected through random antigen testing carried out at exit points from the Western Province. This, he said, was 0.6% of the total number of persons tested.National Operations Centre for the Prevention of COVID-19 Outbreak (NOCPCO) Head Lt. Gen. Shavendra Silva yesterday said rapid antigen testing will take place at random at various exit points from the Western Province over the coming days as well.
He added that there was no truth to reports of a nation-wide lockdown but requested persons to refrain from leaving the Western Province or the areas they are in. The NOCPCO yesterday announced that the Avissawella, Kosgama, and Ruwanwella Police Divisions have been isolated until further notice. Regarding overseas arrivals from the United Kingdom, where a new strain of the virus is fast spreading, Silva explained that the cabin crew and passengers from the UK have been quarantined at a dedicated hotel. While cabin crew usually follows a different quarantine procedure, with the flights from the United Kingdom, which took off before the decision to temporarily suspend repatriation from the UK, cabin crew will also be required to undergo quarantine with passengers. According to the NOCPCO, 51 persons from Qatar and 13 persons from the Maldives arrived in the country yesterday and 150 passengers from the United Arab Emirates were expected as well. The NOCPCO added that 6,284 persons are currently undergoing quarantine at 76 centres.
Meanwhile, the Health Promotion Bureau stated that 1,152,619 PCR tests, including 13,853 tests on Wednesday, have been carried out to date.
