Four new COVID-19 cases push total to 2,886

Saturday, 15 August 2020 00:00 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

82 return home from quarantine; 4,461 remain in 43 centres
12 patients recover; 217 remain in care
Kandakadu cluster reaches 629 patients
66 more Sri Lankans repatriated

By Asiri Fernando

Four new COVID-19 cases were reported yesterday, raising the total number of confirmed cases in Sri Lanka to 2,886, officials said.

According to the Department of Government Information, the four patients were recently repatriated persons from Japan and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) who had been in quarantine when tested.

According to the Health Promotions Bureau, 217 infected patients remain under medical care. According to the Epidemiology Unit of the Health Ministry, 12 persons recovered and were discharged from care, pushing the total number of persons who have recovered to 2,658. A total 11 have succumbed to the virus. Fifty-five persons suspected of having COVID-19 symptoms were being closely monitored by heath authorities.

Of the patients under treatment, 18 patients including a foreign national are being treated at the National Institute for Infectious Diseases (NIID). The Kandakadu centre treats the highest number of patients, with 103 in care, and the Base Hospital Welikanda treats 57, while the Minuwangoda Base Hospital and the Iranawila Hospital each treat 22 and 12 COVID-19 patients respectively. A total of 1,100 PCR tests were conducted on Thursday the National Operations Centre for the Prevention of COVID-19 (NOCPC) reported, with a total of 179,949 PCR test conducted up to date.

Eighty-two persons were released from quarantine yesterday after they tested negative in PCR tests and completed the mandated quarantine program, the NOCPC reported yesterday. They were released from five centres managed by the armed forces.

A total of 30,148 persons have completed the quarantine program at centres managed by the armed forces up to date while 4,464 remain in quarantine at 43 centres.

According to the NOCPC, the Kandakadu cluster has reached 629 infected patients. The majority of the Kandakadu cluster are inmates from the rehabilitation centre, from which 508 COVID-19 patients were identified. Sixty-six persons were repatriated from Dubai, 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 66, a total of 44 were repatriated from Doha, three from Japan, eight from Chennai and one from Dubai.

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 Bandaranaike International Airport (BIA) will be reopened.