• 578 COVID-19 patients detected on Sunday; 7,147 PCR tests conducted
• Total patient count rises to 531,648
• Includes 427,052 persons linked to New Year cluster
• 25,543 persons under medical or home-based care

 By Shailendree Wickrama Adittiya

Sri Lanka’s COVID-19 detections rose to 531,648 with 1,227 COVID-19 detections over the weekend.

On Sunday, 578 persons tested positive for COVID-19 and the patients were from the New Year cluster. This is the first time daily detections have dropped below 600 since 21 April, when 578 persons tested positive for COVID-19.

The Health Promotion Bureau states that 7,147 PCR tests were conducted yesterday.

On Saturday, 6,973 PCR tests and 3,847 rapid antigen tests were conducted and 649 COVID-19 patients were detected. This includes 642 persons from the New Year cluster and seven persons from the Prisons cluster.

The country’s total COVID-19 detections include 427,052 persons from the New Year cluster, 82,785 persons from the Peliyagoda cluster, 8,986 persons from the Prisons cluster, and 3,059 persons from the Prisons cluster.

In addition to this, 6,946 Sri Lankan overseas arrivals and 328 foreigners have also tested positive for COVID-19.

The Epidemiology Unit’s district distribution of COVID-19 cases shows 112,041 persons from Colombo, 94,092 persons from Gampaha, 51,646 persons from Kalutara, 32,511 persons from Galle, and 25,616 persons from Kurunegala.

During the third wave of the pandemic, 79,744 persons from Colombo, 75,558 persons from Gampaha and 44,588 persons from Kalutara tested positive for COVID-19.

At present, 25,543 persons are under medical or home-based care and 2,265 persons suspected of having COVID-19 are under observation.

The Epidemiology Unit states that 316 persons were released from care yesterday, raising the country’s COVID-19 recoveries to 492,621.

• 57,738 persons vaccinated against COVID-19 on Saturday

• 12 COVID-19 deaths confirmed on Saturday