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Tuesday, 4 August 2020 01:02 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}
By Asiri Fernando
Five new COVID-19 case was reported yesterday, raising the total number of confirmed cases in Sri Lanka to 2,828 as the country prepares to vote in a new Parliament tomorrow.
According to the Department of Government information, one of the patients was a close contact of the Local Government official from the Divisional Secretariat in Lankapura, Polonnaruwa who tested positive for the virus last month, while the remaining four are returnees.
According to the Health Promotions Bureau, 300 infected patients are under medical care. According to the Epidemiology Unit of the Health Ministry, three persons recovered and were discharged from care, pushing the total number of persons who have recovered to 2,517. A total of 11 have succumbed to the virus. 75 patients recovered and were released from care on Sunday.
Of the patients under treatment, 26 patients including a foreign national are being treated at the National Institute for Infectious Diseases (NIID). The Kandakadu treatment centre treats the highest number of patients, with 141 in care, Base Hospital Welikanda treats 47 with the Kattankudy Base Hospital and the Army Hospital in Panagoda each treating 10 and 12 COVID-19 patients respectively.
A total of 1,210 PCR tests were conducted on Sunday the NOCPC reported, while several opposition parties placed an increased COVID-19 testing regime as a priority in their election manifestos.
The Government has been under strong criticism for not increasing COVID-19 testing by medical professionals and the Opposition. However, the Health Ministry maintains that they are satisfied with the testing regime in place. A total of 162,090 PCR test for COVID-19 has been conducted as of last Sunday, since testing began in February this year.
55 persons were released from quarantine yesterday as they tested negative for COVID-19 PCR tests and completed the mandated quarantine program, the National Operations Centre for the Prevention of COVID-19 (NOCPC) reported.
A total of 29,112 persons have completed the quarantine program at centres managed by the armed forces up to date while 2,294 remain in quarantine at 33 centres.
According to the NOCPC, the Kandakadu cluster has reached 601 infected patients. The majority of the Kandakadu cluster are inmates from the rehabilitation centre from which 482 COVID-19 patients were identified.
50 patients suspected to have COVID-19 symptoms are being monitored by health authorities, the Epidemiology Unit of the Health Ministry reported. 43 persons were repatriated from Doha, Japan and Chennai yesterday and were moved to quarantine centres after being subjected to PCR test for COVID-19, the NOCPC said. Of the 44, 13 were repatriated from Doha, one from Japan and 29 from Chennai.
The Government is planning to expedite repatriation of nearly 40,000 Sri Lankans who have registered their interest to return home. However, no decision has been made yet about when the airport will be open to travel for foreigners.
