Triple cluster exceeds 29,000 COVID-19 patients

Monday, 14 December 2020 04:44 -     - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

  • 650 persons test positive for virus, total count rises to 32,785
  • 13,292 patients detected from Colombo District alone
  • Over one million PCR tests carried out in country

By Shailendree Wickrama Adittiya


The COVID-19 clusters that emerged from Divulapitiya, Peliyagoda and Prisons have exceeded 29,000 patients with the detection of 650 patients yesterday.

According to the Department of Government Information, 503 patients linked to the Peliyagoda cluster and 147 persons linked to the Prisons cluster tested positive for COVID-19 yesterday. This brings the total count of the clusters to 29,152.

The Epidemiology Unit states that 1,599 Sri Lankan overseas arrivals have also tested positive for COVID-19, along with 950 Navy personnel and their contacts, 651 persons linked to the Kandakadu cluster, and 121 foreigners.

The total count of COVID-19 patients in the country is 32,785, of which 8,843 are currently under medical care at 62 treatment centres. This includes 646 persons at the Punani Treatment Centre, 468 persons at the Kandakadu Treatment Centre, and 459 persons at the Bingiriya Treatment Centre. Hospitals are also monitoring 444 persons suspected of having COVID-19.

The total number of COVID-19 recoveries in the island yesterday rose to 23,793 with hospitals discharging 489 persons. According to the Epidemiology Unit, the latest recoveries include 37 persons from the Bingiriya Treatment Centre, 37 persons from the Punani Treatment Centre, and 35 persons from the Kahawatte Treatment Centre.

The Epidemiology Unit adds that over 22,000 COVID-19 patients have been detected from the Western Province alone, including 13,292 patients from Colombo District, 7,173 patients from Gampaha District, and 1,687 patients from Kalutara District.

The Epidemiology Unit’s district distribution of COVID-19 cases also records 861 patients from Kandy, 417 from Kurunegala, and 341 from Kalmunai.

Of the 760 patients detected on Saturday, 397 were from Colombo District, including 60 from Borella, 46 from Mattakkuliya, 36 from Dematagoda, and 23 from Wellawatte. The remaining cases detected on Saturday include 136 from Kalutara, 55 from Kandy, 50 from Gampaha, and 36 from Jaffna.

Meanwhile, the Health Promotion Bureau states that 15,239 PCR tests were carried out on Saturday, bringing the total number of tests carried out in the island to 1,004,203.

According to the National Operations Centre for the Prevention of COVID-19 Outbreak, 430 overseas arrivals landed in the island last morning. This includes 210 persons from Japan, 75 persons from Australia, 63 persons from the United Arab Emirates, 51 persons from Qatar, and 31 persons from the Maldives. 25 from Singapore and 24 persons from the Maldives were expected later in the day.

The NOCPCO adds that 6,754 persons are currently undergoing quarantine at 67 centres.

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