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Tuesday, 15 September 2020 00:48 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}
The number of COVID-19-related deaths reported in the country increased to 13 yesterday, with the death of a returnee from Bahrain.
According to the Department of Government Information, the 60-year-old individual was a sailor who tested positive after returning to the country on 2 September. The individual was admitted to the Chilaw Base Hospital on 9 September, while undergoing quarantine, but passed away due to a heart attack yesterday.
The Health Promotion Bureau calculates the country’s fatality rate as 0.4%, which is low compared to the global rate of 3.18%.
The number of confirmed COVID-19 cases also increased yesterday, with the identification of 28 new cases. This brings the total number of confirmed cases in the island to 3,262.
According to the Epidemiology Unit’s situation report published at 10 a.m. yesterday, the total count includes 1,273 local returnees and 48 foreigners. The local cases include 950 Navy personnel and their close contacts and 650 persons connected to the Kandakadu Treatment and Rehabilitation Centre.
The Kandakadu cluster includes 528 detainees, 67 staff members, 48 family members and close associates, and five guest staffers. Of them, 368 persons have recovered thus far and only 11 remain under medical care, the Sri Lanka Army stated.
The total number of active cases in the island is 244, an increase from the 187 active cases reported at 10 a.m. on Sunday. Of the active cases, 94 are receiving treatment at the Welikanda Base Hospital, 76 are receiving treatment at the National Institute of Infectious Diseases (NIID), 41 are receiving treatment at the Iranawila Hospital, and three are receiving treatment at the Colombo East Base Hospital.
The total number of patients under medical care include eight foreigners and the Epidemiology Unit added that one foreigner was discharged during the 24-hour period ending at 10 a.m. yesterday.
Yesterday’s recoveries also include eight Sri Lankans. With six persons being discharged from the Iranawila Hospital and three persons being discharged from the NIID, the country’s total COVID-19 recoveries rose to 3,005.
The Health Promotion Bureau calculates Sri Lanka’s recovery rate as 92.89% and adds that a total of 256,043 PCR tests have been performed thus far, including 2,201 on Sunday.
In addition to this, 56 persons suspected of having COVID-19 are currently being monitored at various hospitals. This includes 16 persons at the Kotelawala Defence University (KDU) Hospital, seven persons at the Welikanda Base Hospital, and seven persons at the Polonnaruwa District General Hospital.
The number of persons to leave quarantine centres having completed the process increased to 40,965, with 159 persons leaving centres yesterday. The Sri Lanka Army stated that this includes 52 persons from the Negombo Amagi Aarya Hotel Quarantine Centre, 40 persons from the Pitipana Sri Lanka Army General Service Corps Quarantine Centre, 21 persons from the Mullaitivu Quarantine Centre, 15 persons from the Anuradhapura Wasala Hotel Quarantine Centre, and 15 persons from the Hotel Jetwing Beach Quarantine Centre.
Seven persons from the Diyathalawa Quarantine Centre, five persons from the Pasikudah Quarantine Centre, three persons from the Panichchankerni Quarantine Centre, and one person from the Ruwala Kalpitiya Quarantine Centre also left their respective centres yesterday.
The Sri Lanka Army added that 5,960 persons are currently undergoing quarantine at 60 centres managed by the Sri Lanka Army, Sri Lanka Navy, and Sri Lanka Air Force.
In addition to this, 295 persons from Japan, 64 persons from Qatar, and 26 persons from Dubai arrived in the island yesterday and have been directed to quarantine centres. (SWA)
