Friday May 17, 2024
Friday May 17, 2024
Monday, 21 February 2022 03:23 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}
By Shailendree Wickrama Adittiya
COVID-19 detections over the weekend rose to 2,504 with 1,231 persons testing positive for COVID-19 yesterday.
According to the Department of Government Information, all patients detected yesterday were from the New Year cluster.
The previous day, 1,271 persons from the New Year cluster and two persons from the Prisons cluster tested positive for COVID-19. The Health Promotion Bureau states that 5,816 PCR tests and 2,616 rapid antigen tests were conducted on Saturday.
Sri Lanka’s total COVID-19 detections has risen to 636,837.
This includes 531,148 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.
In addition to this, 7,218 Sri Lankan returnees from overseas and 328 foreigners have also tested positive for COVID-19.
The Epidemiology Unit states that 131,214 persons from Colombo, 110,634 persons from Gampaha, 56,429 persons from Kalutara, 41,991 persons from Galle, and 30,362 persons from Kurunegala are among the country’s COVID-19 detections.
During the third wave of the pandemic, 98,917 persons from Colombo, 92,100 persons from Gampaha, and 49,371 persons from Kalutara tested positive for COVID-19.
The country’s COVID-19 recoveries rose to 597,118 with 227 persons released from care yesterday.
At present, 23,725 persons are under medical or home-based care and 1,060 persons suspected of having COVID-19 are under observation.
According to Patient Home Isolation and Management System Head Dr. Malkanthi Galhena, persons with various medical complications and chronic illness remain at home since the symptoms of the Omicron variant are very mild.
“This is a dangerous situation, because severe complications can put at risk the lives of persons with chronic and other illnesses as well as persons who have not received the booster dose,” she warned.
Meanwhile, health officials continue to encourage the public to get the booster dose, especially given the spread of COVID-19 in the country.
“We try our best to highlight the need, but we cannot force people,” Health Minister Keheliya Rambukwella said.
According to Public Health Inspectors Union President Upul Rohana, strict adherence to health guidelines and getting all due vaccine doses are the best measures to be taken by the public.
