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Saturday, 19 December 2020 00:15 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}
By Shailendree Wickrama Adittiya
The triple COVID-19 clusters that emerged from Divulapitiya, Peliyagoda, and the prisons yesterday exceeded 32,000 patients with 660 persons testing positive for the virus.
According to the Department of Government Information, all 660 patients were persons linked to the Peliyagoda COVID-19 cluster. The triple clusters currently total 32,380 patients.
This brings the total number of COVID-19 patients identified in the island to 36,047, which also includes 1,628 Sri Lankan returnees from abroad, 950 persons linked to the Welisara cluster, 651 persons linked to the Kandakadu cluster, and 126 foreigners.
The Epidemiology Unit states that 8,821 persons are currently under medical care, including 719 persons at the Punani Treatment Centre, 467 persons at the Bingiriya Treatment Centre, and 427 persons at the Neville Fernando Hospital.
Hospitals are also monitoring 428 persons suspected of having COVID-19, and Health Services Deputy Director-General Dr. Hemantha Herath stated that 11,502 hospital beds in 68 treatment centres have been set aside for COVID-19 treatment. He added that 21 Intensive Care Unit (ICU) beds are currently in use.
Over 500 persons were discharged from hospitals yesterday having recovered from COVID-19. This includes 146 persons from the Kandakadu Treatment Centre, 72 persons from the Kopai Treatment Centre, 52 persons from the Rambukkana Treatment Centre, and 43 persons from the Samanalawewa Treatment Centre.
The country’s total COVID-19 recoveries have thus increased to 27,061.
According to the Epidemiology Unit, 14,635 persons from the Colombo District, 7,734 persons from the Gampaha District, and 2,153 persons from the Kalutara District have tested positive for COVID-19 to date.
The total number of patients detected from the Western Province includes 440 persons who tested positive for COVID-19 on Thursday. Of the patients, 242 were from Colombo, 126 were from Gampaha, and 72 were from Kalutara.
The patients detected from Colombo on Thursday include 65 from Wellawatte, 54 from Borella, and 25 from Slave Island.
Thursday’s patients also include 42 from Kandy, 33 from Ampara, and 28 from Ratnapura.
According to the Health Promotion Bureau, 1,069,520 PCR tests have been performed in the country to date. This includes 14,024 tests on Thursday.
Meanwhile, the National Operations Centre for the Prevention of COVID-19 Outbreak (NOCPCO) states that 7,961 persons are currently undergoing quarantine at 79 centres.
The NOCPCO adds that 205 persons arrived in Sri Lanka in the morning yesterday, with 599 overseas arrivals expected throughout the day.
