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Wednesday, 17 June 2020 01:56 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}
By Shailendree Wickrama Adittiya
Ten new COVID-19 patients were identified yesterday, resulting in a slight rise in the total number of cases from 1,905 to 1,915.
Of the total confirmed cases, 931 are Navy personnel and their close contacts, 659 are Sri Lankan returnees from abroad, and 313 are other local cases. There are three foreigners among the total cases.
According to the situation report published by the Epidemiology Unit yesterday, 893 Navy personnel have tested positive for COVID-19 so far. The report also stated that 614 cases were identified among overseas arrivals at quarantine centres and 71 among local communities at quarantine centres.
The number of patients under medical care is currently 533. Of these, 105 are at the Hambantota District General Hospital, 96 are at the National Institute of Infectious Diseases (NIID), 82 are at the Welikanda Base Hospital, 81 are at the Teldeniya Base Hospital, and 73 are at the Kattankudy Base Hospital.
The Epidemiology Unit adds that the Homagama and Minuwangoda Base Hospitals are providing medical care to 21 patients each, while 18 patients are being treated at the Welisara Navy Hospital, 15 at the Iranawila Hospital, four at the Panagoda Army Hospital, and two at the Colombo East Base Hospital.
In addition to this, 55 suspect patients are under investigation at various hospitals, including 16 at the Kotelawala Defence University (KDU) Hospital. The Health Promotion Bureau states that 88,734 PCR tests have been carried out so far, including 1,651 tests on Monday.
29 persons recovered from COVID-19 in the 24-hour period that ended at 10 a.m. yesterday. Of these, 14 were from the Welisara Navy Hospital, five from the Welikanda Base Hospital, four from the Minuwangoda Base Hospital, three from the Kattankudy Base Hospital, two from the NIID, and one from the Homagama Base Hospital.
The total COVID-19 recoveries in Sri Lanka has thus risen to 1,371. This includes 734 Navy personnel, who are required to quarantine for 14 days after being discharged from hospital.
The Defence Ministry yesterday stated that the group of 85 from Iran who will be working at the Uma Oya Multipurpose Development Project will be quarantined at a special residential quarantine centre in Karandagolla. While the group from Iran arrived in the country on Monday, a flight carrying 42 Sri Lankans from Nepal arrived in Sri Lanka yesterday morning. The group was subjected to a PCR test upon arrival and were directed to quarantine centres.
The Defence Ministry added that 179 persons left centres yesterday, having completed the quarantine process. As of now, a total of 14,097 persons have left quarantine centres and 4,297 persons are yet to complete the process.