COVID-19 patient count crosses 41,000 mark over weekend

• Patients detected during weekend exceed 1,000
• Over 27,000 patients detected from Western Province
• 49 of 8,000 rapid antigen testing at WP exit points COVID-positive: Police
• Isolation lifted in 8 areas in Colombo, 2 GN divisions newly isolated
• 4 new COVID deaths raise total to 191

By Shailendree Wickrama Adittiya

The total number of COVID-19 patients identified in the island crossed the 40,000 mark over the weekend with 598 patients detected on Saturday and 668 patients detected yesterday.

According to the Department of Government Information, 614 associates of the Peliyagoda COVID-19 cluster and 54 persons from the Prisons cluster tested positive for COVID-19 yesterday.

On Saturday, 598 persons tested positive for COVID-19. This includes 541 associates of the Peliyagoda COVID-19 cluster, 52 persons from the Prisons COVID-19 cluster, and five overseas arrivals.

The district distribution of Saturday’s patients shows 235 patients from Colombo, 164 from Gampaha, 84 from Kalutara, 25 from Batticaloa, and 22 from Galle.

The patients detected over the weekend bring the Divulapitiya, Peliyagoda and Prisons COVID-19 clusters to 37,360 patients.

Four COVID-19 related deaths have been reported yesterday, which raises the total number of deaths to 191, according to the Government Information Department.

The total number of COVID-19 patients identified from the Western Province has exceeded 27,000, with 16,702 patients from Colombo, 8,511 patients from Gampaha, and 2,743 from Kalutara. According to the Epidemiology Unit, 1,163 persons from Kandy, 652 persons from Kalmunai, and 568 persons from Kurunegala have also tested positive for COVID-19 to date.

The total number of patients detected in the island is 41,048. In addition to the triple clusters, the total count includes 1,648 Sri Lankan overseas arrivals, 950 Navy personnel and their contacts, 651 persons linked to the Kandakadu cluster, and 127 foreigners.

The Epidemiology Unit states that 8,160 persons are currently under medical care for COVID-19, of which 566 persons are at the Punani Treatment Centre, 509 persons are at the Bingiriya Treatment Centre, and 433 persons are at the Neville Fernando Hospital. Hospitals are also monitoring 497 persons suspected of having COVID-19.

The number of COVID-19 recoveries is 32,701, with 117 persons from the Gallela Treatment Centre, 62 persons from the Punani treatment Centre, and 50 persons from the Darga Town Treatment Centre among 650 persons discharged from hospitals yesterday.

According to the Health Promotion Bureau, 1,192,128 PCR tests have been performed in the island, including 11,060 tests on Saturday.

Police Spokesperson DIG Ajith Rohana yesterday stated that 49 COVID-19 patients were identified from approximately 8,000 rapid antigen tests carried out at random at 11 exist points from the Western Province since 18 December.

Meanwhile, the National Operations Centre for the Prevention of the COVID-19 Outbreak (NOCPCO) yesterday announced that isolation was lifted from eight areas in the Colombo District at 5 a.m. today. The areas are the Dam Street, Keselwatte and Maradana Police Divisions, the Wekanda and Hunupitiya Grama Niladhari Divisions, Mayura Place in the Wellawatte Police Division, Halgahawatte and Kalipulla Watte in the Borella Police Division, and the Laksanda Sewana Housing Scheme in the Wellampitiya Police Division.

Aluthkade West and Aluthkade East Grama Niladhari Divisions in the Keselwatte Police Division have been newly isolated.

The NOCPCO also announced that 10 Grama Niladhari Divisions in Ratnapura District have been isolated. The areas are the Minnana, Wilegoda, Yakudagodda, Asgangula and Bopaththa Grama Niladhari Divisions of the Eheliyagoda Divisional Secretariat Division and the Rakwana Town, Rakwana North, Rakwana South, Musimbula and Kottala Grama Niladhari Divisions of the Godakawela Divisional Secretariat Division.

According to the NOCPCO, 5,791 persons are currently undergoing quarantine at 73 centres. The NOCPCO added that 200 persons from Jordan, 130 persons from Qatar, 74 persons from Japan, 68 persons from Australia, 53 persons from the United Arab Emirates, and one person from the Maldives arrived in the island yesterday.

Flights from Dubai, Italy, Turkey and Singapore carrying 75 passengers were expected within the day.

Meanwhile, the Health Ministry yesterday issued a statement on the disposal of remains of COVID-19 patients, stating that as per specialist reports received by the Ministry, all remains of COVID-19 patients will be cremated.

The statement was issued to shed light on false news being circulated regarding the matter, which the Ministry stated was a distortion of health policies with a political motive.