• 3,152 COVID-19 cases reported since 6 Sep. added to total count
• Total COVID-19 detections rise to 496,423, includes 390,799 from New Year cluster
• Schools expected to reopen in two to three weeks’ time
• 57,470 persons currently receiving treatment

By Shailendree Wickrama Adittiya

Sri Lanka’s COVID-19 detections exceeded 496,000 with the detection of 2,314 COVID-19 cases yesterday and the addition of over 3,000 delayed cases. The patients detected yesterday were from the New Year cluster.

Health officials yesterday added 3,152 COVID-19 cases reported between 6 and 14 September to the total patient count after verification. This raises the country’s total COVID-19 patient count to 496,423. This includes 106,973 persons from Colombo, 88,992 persons from Gampaha, 48,663 persons from Kalutara, 27,927 persons from Galle, and 23,699 persons from Kurunegala. During the third wave of the pandemic, 74,676 persons from Colombo, 70,458 persons from Gampaha, and 41,605 persons from Kalutara have tested positive for COVID-19.

According to the Epidemiology Unit, Sri Lanka’s local COVID-19 cases include 390,799 persons from the New Year cluster, 82,785 persons from the Peliyagoda cluster, 8,347 persons from the Prisons cluster, and 3,059 persons from the Divulapitiya cluster. The country’s imported cases consist of 6,877 Sri Lankans and 328 foreigners. This takes into account the 2,475 COVID-19 patients detected on Tuesday, of which 2,472 were from the New Year cluster, two were Sri Lankan overseas arrivals, and one was from the Prisons cluster.

According to the Health Promotion Bureau, 9,957 PCR tests and 3,445 rapid antigen tests were carried out on Tuesday. A total of 11,033 PCR tests were carried out yesterday. At present, 57,470 persons are under medical or home-based care and 2,941 persons suspected of having COVID-19 are under observation.

The Epidemiology Unit states that 1,247 persons were released from treatment centres yesterday, raising the country’s COVID-19 recoveries to 427,254.

Meanwhile, the Health Ministry yesterday issued a statement on the reopening of schools, saying 5,000 schools with less than 200 students will be among the first to reopen. During a discussion held yesterday between Health Ministry and Education Ministry officials, focus was drawn to reopening preschools and primary schools.

While schools are expected to reopen in the next two to three weeks, the timeline will be decided by the Education Ministry with the Health Ministry tasked with preparing the necessary health guidelines.

132 COVID-19 deaths raise total fatalities to 11,699