Saturday Dec 14, 2024
Saturday Dec 14, 2024
Monday, 16 August 2021 00:15 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}
By Shailendree Wickrama Adittiya
A total of 3,435 persons tested positive for COVID-19 yesterday, raising the country’s COVID-19 detections to 354,968.
The patients detected yesterday were from the New Year cluster.
The Epidemiology Unit states that the total patient count of the New Year cluster is 248,889 and the Prisons cluster is 7,965. The country’s local cases also include 82,785 persons from the Peliyagoda cluster and 3,059 persons from the Divulapitiya cluster.
In terms of imported cases, 6,593 Sri Lankans and 328 foreigners have tested positive for COVID-19. This includes the 3,263 COVID-19 patients detected on Saturday, of which 3,245 were from the New Year cluster and 18 were Sri Lankan overseas returnees. The district distribution of COVID-19 patients shows 81,743 persons from Colombo, 64,246 persons from Gampaha, 38,436 persons from Kalutara, 17,405 persons from Kurunegala, and 17,062 persons from Galle.
During the third wave of the pandemic, 49,446 persons from Colombo, 45,712 persons from Gampaha, and 31,378 persons from Kalutara tested positive for COVID-19.
At present, 39,301 persons are under medical or home-based care and 3,272 persons suspected of having COVID-19 are being observed.
The Epidemiology Unit states that 2,387 persons left hospitals yesterday, raising the country’s COVID-19 recoveries to 309,732.
According to Dr. Ananda Wijewickrama of the National Institute of Infectious Diseases, the death toll projections by Monash University, Australia in collaboration with WHO SEAR and Sri Lanka County Office could become a reality if prevention measures are not taken now. The projections show a cumulative death toll of 30,000 by January 2022 but state that 18,000 deaths can be averted by then with increased levels of stringency for the next four weeks. Dr. Wijewickrama stated that travel should be limited, and gatherings prohibited. “There are more positive patients in the community than is reported. Two months ago, when 50 deaths were reported, around 3,000 patients were detected. The fatalities have tripled now, so we can assume there are thrice as many patients now,” he added.
