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Tuesday, 2 February 2021 01:30 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}
By Shailendree Wickrama Adittiya
The total COVID-19 patient count in the island rose to 64,983 with the detection of 826 COVID-19 positive persons yesterday.
According to the Department of Government Information, 816 of yesterday’s patients were associates of the Peliyagoda COVID-19 cluster. The triple clusters that emerged from Divulapitiya, Peliyagoda and Prisons have thus expanded to 60,990 patients. 10 overseas arrivals tested positive for COVID-19 as well.
In addition to the triple clusters, the total COVID-19 patient count includes 950 Navy personnel and their contacts and 651 persons linked to the Kandakadu cluster from currently inactive clusters, as well as 1,919 Sri Lankan returnees and 150 foreigners.
According to the Epidemiology Unit, the district distribution of the total COVID-19 patients includes 23,570 persons from Colombo, 12,956 persons from Gampaha and 4,381 persons from Kalutara. This brings the number of COVID-19 patients detected from the Western Province to 40,907.
The district distribution also records 2,442 patients from Kandy, 1,393 patients from Galle and 1,270 patients from Kurunegala.
The district distribution includes the 864 persons who tested positive for COVID-19 on Sunday, of which 362 were from Colombo, 88 were from Gampaha, 81 were from Kandy, 66 were from Kalutara and 45 were from Ratnapura. Of the patients detected from Colombo, 30 were from Colombo 8, 23 were from Colombo 2, 13 were from Colombo 1 and 13 were from Colombo 15.
Also included among COVID-19 patients detected from the Colombo District on Sunday are 21 persons from Wellampitiya, 17 persons from Kottawa and 17 persons from Homagama.
The Epidemiology Unit adds that 6,585 persons are currently under medical care. The active patients include 359 persons at the Neville Fernando Teaching Hospital, 348 persons at the Bingiriya Treatment Centre and 292 persons at the Punani Treatment Centre. Hospitals are also monitoring 839 persons suspected of having COVID-19.
Defence Ministry Secretary Major General (Retd.) Kamal Gunaratne yesterday addressed concerns regarding personnel attached to the Mihintale Civil Defence Training School attending Independence Day preparations taking place in Colombo. 17 COVID-19 patients were detected from the school and 200 personnel attended the preparations.
“A few officers from the Civil Defence Force had contracted this virus and we removed them and their first contacts. In this situation, we will check if any of the personnel have contracted the virus and if they have, their first contacts will also be removed,” Dr. Gunaratne said.
According to Epidemiology Unit, 58,075 persons have recovered from the virus to date. Among persons discharged from treatment centres yesterday are 98 persons from the Rambukkana Treatment Centre, 73 persons from the Panideniya Treatment Centre and 73 persons from the Giriulla Treatment Centre.
In terms of testing, the Health Promotion Bureau states that 1,721,936 PCR tests have been carried out to date, including 13,537 tests on Sunday.
