17 persons test positive for COVID-19

• Total patient count rises to 663,520
• Includes 75,931 detections since 1 January
• Active cases rise to 874
• Two persons released from care

 By Shailendree Wickrama Adittiya

Sri Lanka’s COVID-19 case count rose to 663,520, following the detection of 17 COVID-19 detections yesterday.

The previous day, 34 COVID-19 patients were detected. A total of 75,931 persons have tested positive for COVID-19 since 1 January.

The country’s COVID-19 detections include 483,090 persons from the New Year cluster, 82,785 persons from the Peliyagoda cluster, 9,154 persons from the Prisons cluster, and 3,059 persons from the Divulapitiya cluster.

The country’s imported cases include 7,242 Sri Lankan returnees from overseas and 328 foreigners.

The Epidemiology Unit states that 139,335 persons from Colombo, 114,435 persons from Gampaha, 58,246 persons from Kalutara, 45,678 persons from Galle, and 31,499 persons from Kurunegala.

During the third wave of the pandemic, 107,038 persons from Colombo, 95,901 persons from Gampaha, and 51,188 persons from Kalutara were detected.

At present, 874 persons are under medical or home-based care and 164 persons suspected of having COVID-19 are under observation.

Two persons were released from COVID-19 care yesterday, raising the country’s COVID-19 recoveries to 646,138.