Nearly 500 Sri Lankans repatriated over the weekend

Monday, 17 August 2020 00:00 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

30 return home from quarantine, 4,756 remain in 42 centres
Three test positive, total number of confirmed cases reach 2,893
Four patients recover, 212 remain in care
Kandakadu cluster remains at 629 patients

Three new COVID-19 cases were reported yesterday, raising the total number of confirmed cases in Sri Lanka to 2,893 while 496 people were repatriated over the weekend.

According to the Department of Government Information, the three patients are recently repatriated persons from Oman and had been in quarantine when they tested positive for COVID-19.

According to the Health Promotions Bureau, 212 infected patients are under medical care. According to Epidemiology Unit of the Health Ministry, four persons recovered yesterday and were discharged from care, pushing the total number of persons who have recovered to 2,670. A total of 11 have succumbed to the virus. 55 persons suspected to have COVID-19 symptoms are being closely monitored by heath authorities.

Of the patients under treatment, 17 patients including two foreign nationals are being treated at the National Institute for Infectious Diseases (NIID). The Kandakadu treatment centre treats the highest number of patients, with 102 in care, Base Hospital Welikanda treats 62 with the Minuwangoda Base Hospital and the Iranawila Hospital each treating 18 and 10 COVID-19 patients respectively.

Thirty persons were released from quarantine yesterday after they tested negative for the virus and completed the mandated quarantine program, the National Operations Centre for the Prevention of COVID-19 (NOCPC) reported. They were released from four centres managed by the armed forces.

A total of 30,524 persons have completed the quarantine program at centres up to date while 4,756 remain in quarantine at 42 centres.

According to the NOCPC, the Kandakadu cluster remains stagnated at 629 infected patients, with no new patients reported for several days. The majority of the Kandakadu cluster are, inmates from the rehabilitation centre, from which 508 COVID-19 patients were identified.

496 persons were repatriated from Oman, Dubai and Doha yesterday. They were moved to quarantine centres after being subjected to PCR tests for COVID-19, the NOCPC said. Of the 496, 150 were repatriated from Oman, 320 from Dubai and 24 merchant seamen from Doha.