34 persons test positive for COVID-19

• Total detections rise to 663,503
• 75,897 COVID-19 patients detected since 1 Jan.
• 860 persons currently receiving care
• Two recoveries bring total to 646,136

By Shailendree 

Wickrama Adittiya

Sri Lanka’s COVID-19 detections went up by 34 following yesterday’s detections, with the total case count currently standing at 663,503.

This includes 43 COVID-19 patients detected on Wednesday, when 1,088 PCR tests and 423 rapid antigen tests were conducted.

According to the Epidemiology Unit, 75,897 COVID-19 patients have been detected this year. In addition to this, 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 have been detected. The country’s imported cases include 7,242 Sri Lankan returnees from overseas and 328 foreigners.

The district distribution of COVID-19 cases includes 139,314 cases from Colombo, 114,433 cases from Gampaha, 58,246 cases from Kalutara, 45,667 cases from Galle and 31,499 cases from Kurunegala.

During the third wave of the pandemic, 107,017 persons from Colombo, 95,899 persons from Gampaha and 51,188 persons from Kalutara tested positive for COVID-19.

There are currently 860 persons under medical or home-based care and 199 persons suspected having COVID-19 under observation.

According to the Epidemiology Unit, Sri Lanka’s COVID-19 recoveries rose to 646,136 with two persons released from care yesterday.

The Epidemiology Unit adds that 16,507 COVID-19 fatalities have been confirmed to date. Of this, 9,318 are male and 7,189 are female. In terms of age distribution of COVID-19 deaths, 76.28% are from the over-60 age group, 22.4% are from the 30 to 59 age group and 1.31% are from the under-30 age group.