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Wednesday, 4 August 2021 00:19 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}
President Gotabaya Rajapaksa on Monday night inspected the mass vaccination against COVID-19 at the Vihara Maha Devi Open Air Amphitheatre area
By Shailendree Wickrama Adittiya
Sri Lanka’s COVID-19 detections rose to 316,219 with 2,450 persons testing positive for COVID-19 yesterday.
The patients detected yesterday include 2,423 persons from the New Year cluster. The Epidemiology Unit states that 211,494 persons from the New Year cluster, 82,785 persons from the Peliyagoda cluster, 7,851 persons from the Prisons cluster, and 3,059 persons form the Divulapitiya cluster have been detected to date.
The cumulative patient count of the four clusters is 307,622.
In terms of imported cases, 6,338 Sri Lankan overseas arrivals and 328 foreigners have tested positive for COVID-19.
This takes into account the 2,420 COVID-19 patients detected on Monday, of which 2,372 persons were from the New Year cluster, 38 were Sri Lankan overseas arrivals, and ten persons were from the Prisons cluster.
Of Monday’s COVID-19 detections, 668 persons were from Gampaha, 286 persons were from Colombo, and 274 persons were from Kalutara.
Western Province detections during the third wave consist of 40,244 persons from Colombo, 38,422 persons from Gampaha, and 26,824 persons from Kalutara.
The district distribution of COVID-19 detections includes 72,541 persons from Colombo, 56,956 persons from Gampaha, 33,882 persons from Kalutara, 15,453 persons from Kurunegala, and 15,043 persons from Galle.
According to the Health Promotion Bureau, 11,293 PCR tests were carried out yesterday. The day before, 13,322 PCR tests and 3,789 rapid antigen tests were carried out.
The Epidemiology Unit states that 1,902 persons were released from treatment centres yesterday, raising the country’s COVID-19 recoveries to 282,770.
At present, 28,878 persons are under medical care and 1,516 persons suspected of having COVID-19 are under observation.
Concerns have been raised by the health sector about the limited number of vacant beds for COVID-19 treatment, with Health Ministry Spokesperson Dr. Hemantha Herath saying: “Despite there being beds in major hospitals, all beds cannot be set aside for COVID-19 patients as we use these for other patients as well.”
Bed availability has been an issue given the rise in COVID-19 detections.
The Sri Lanka Media Association also issued warnings about the country’s COVID-19 situation, saying there is an increase in the number of COVID-19 patients.
“Certain issues have arisen with regard to the number of beds in some areas and it is true that there is an increase in the number of patients,” Cabinet Co-Spokesperson Dr. Ramesh Pathirana said. He added that the Health Ministry will soon issue guidelines for homecare for asymptomatic COVID-19 patients.
Meanwhile, Health Minister Pavithra Wanniarachchi yesterday said all healthcare workers have been vaccinated and that their services were required given the rise in COVID-19 patients.
She made these comments at the opening of a COVID-19 treatment unit at the Colombo East Base Hospital. The treatment unit has five wards and 160 beds and was constructed by the Sri Lanka Navy.
