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Sunday Dec 15, 2024
Wednesday, 18 August 2021 00:15 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}
By Shailendree Wickrama Adittiya
A total of 3,609 persons tested positive for COVID-19 yesterday, raising the country’s COVID-19 detections to 365,683.
The rapid spread of COVID-19 in the country may be due to three main mutations to the Delta variant, State Minister of Pharmaceutical Production, Supply and Regulation Channa Jayasumana said in Parliament yesterday.
“Researchers have discovered that a few mutations of the Delta variant spreading in Sri Lanka have occurred. We are aware of three main mutations as of now. These are the spike mutations known as SA222V, SA701S, and SA1078S,” he said.
While inter-provincial travel has been banned and quarantine curfew is being imposed from 10 p.m. to 4 a.m. daily, the public is being urged to observe self-imposed restrictions, limiting movement as much as possible.
According to Health Minister Keheliya Rambukwella, all measures to control the spread have been taken.
“All steps to control it have been taken. One belief is a complete lockdown for two weeks. We closed down for months and what happened once restrictions were lifted?” he asked, explaining that several persons face financial difficulties when a complete lockdown is imposed.
Meanwhile, Parliament yesterday approved the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (Covid-19) (Temporary Provisions) Bill with amendments. It was also stated that 275 persons in Parliament including parliamentarians, staff, security forces and media were subjected to rapid antigen tests yesterday and 12 persons tested positive.
According to the Health Promotion Bureau, 15,552 PCR tests were carried out yesterday. The COVID-19 detections include 3,555 from the New Year cluster and 54 overseas arrivals.
Sri Lanka’s total COVID-19 detections include 259,368 persons from the New Year cluster and 7,975 persons from the Prisons cluster as well as 6,645 Sri Lankan overseas arrivals and 328 foreigners.
This takes into account the COVID-19 patients detected on Monday, when 3,408 persons from the New Year cluster, 52 Sri Lankan overseas arrivals, and six persons from the Prisons cluster tested positive for COVID-19.
Of the total COVID-19 detections, 83,049 are from Colombo, 66,459 are from Gampaha, 39,042 are from Kalutara, 17,712 are from Galle, and 17,371 are from Kurunegala.
Western Province detections during the third wave consist of 50,752 patients from Colombo, 47,925 patients from Gampaha, and 31,984 patients from Kalutara. At present, 45,080 persons are under medical or home-based care and 3,752 persons suspected of having COVID-19 are under observation.
A total of 2,283 persons left hospitals yesterday, raising the country’s COVID-19 recoveries to 314,340.
According to the Sri Lanka Navy, Sri Lanka Naval Ship (SLNS) Shakthi is due to arrive in Chennai, India this evening and will return with medical-grade oxygen required to maintain the required stocks for treatment of COVID-19 patients.
