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Saturday, 25 September 2021 00:30 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}
By Shailendree Wickrama Adittiya
Sri Lanka’s COVID-19 detections rose to 511,372 with 1,332 persons testing positive for COVID-19 yesterday. The patients detected yesterday were from the New Year cluster and 10,410 PCR tests were conducted during the day.
Questions have been raised about the drop in testing, but Health Promotion Bureau Director Dr. Ranjith Batuwanthudawe yesterday said: “In August, 450,000 antigen tests and 527,431 PCR tests were conducted and 32,000 tests were carried out daily.”
On Thursday, 8,256 PCR tests and 3,507 rapid antigen tests were carried out. The COVID-19 cases detected on Thursday include 1,357 persons from the New Year cluster and 11 persons from the Prisons cluster.
The New Year cluster has thus expanded to 406,386 patients and the Prisons cluster has expanded to 8,648 patients. The country’s local cases also include 82,785 persons linked to the Peliyagoda cluster and 3,059 persons linked to the Divulapitiya cluster.
A total of 6,920 Sri Lankan overseas arrivals and 328 foreigners have also tested positive for COVID-19.
According to the Epidemiology Unit, 109,197 patients have been detected from Colombo District. The district distribution of COVID-19 patients also shows 91,109 persons from Gampaha, 50,155 persons from Kalutara, 30,002 persons from Galle, and 24,501 persons from Kurunegala.
During the third wave of the pandemic, 76,900 persons from Colombo, 72,575 persons from Gampaha, and 43,097 persons from Kalutara have tested positive for COVID-19.
At present, 46,150 persons are under medical or home-based care and 2,435 persons suspected of having COVID-19 are under observation.
A total of 452,692 persons have recovered from COVID-19 to date, including 950 persons released from treatment yesterday.
Meanwhile, the President’s Media Division (PMD) yesterday stated that health recommendations and restrictions to be implemented after quarantine curfew is lifted will be prepared by the Special Committee on COVID-19 Control looking at three key sectors.
The Special Committee met yesterday to discuss the situation in the country and decided the recommendations would focus on the Public sector, public transport, and the private sector.
Relevant ministries will issue recommendations under the guidance of the Special Committee on COVID-19 Control and the Health Ministry, with the Public Administration Ministry covering the Public sector, Transport Ministry covering public transportation, and the Labour Ministry covering the private sector.
