4,355 more test positive for COVID-19

• Total patient count rises to 394,355, includes 287,043 from New Year cluster
• PCR testing drops to 14,716 on Monday
• Western Province detections rise to 202,237
• 42,608 persons currently under medical or home-based care

By Shailendree Wickrama Adittiya

Sri Lanka’s COVID-19 detections rose to 394,355 with 4,355 persons testing positive for COVID-19 yesterday. This is the second consecutive day where daily COVID-19 detections have exceeded 4,000.

The patients detected yesterday include 4,353 persons from the New Year cluster and two overseas arrivals. According to the Health Promotion Bureau, 14,716 PCR tests were carried out yesterday.

The previous day, 19,083 PCR tests and 5,192 rapid antigen tests were carried out. On Sunday, 4,304 persons tested positive for COVID-19. Out of the detections, 4,245 were from the New Year cluster, 37 were from the Prisons cluster, and 22 were Sri Lankan overseas returnees.

The Epidemiology Unit states that 287,043 persons from the New Year cluster, 82,785 persons from the Peliyagoda cluster, 8,117 persons from the Prisons cluster, and 3,059 persons from the Divulapitiya cluster have tested positive for COVID-19 to date.

In terms of imported cases, 6,754 Sri Lankans and 328 foreigners are also among the country’s COVID-19 detections.

According to the Epidemiology Unit, 89,643 persons from Colombo, 71,568 persons from Gampaha, 41,026 persons from Kalutara, 20,804 persons from Galle, and 18,791 persons from Kurunegala have tested positive for COVID-19.

During the third wave of the pandemic, 57,346 persons from Colombo, 53,034 persons from Gampaha, and 33,968 persons from Kalutara tested positive for COVID-19.

At present, 42,608 persons are under medical or home-based care, with 3,523 persons suspected of having COVID-19 under observation.

The Epidemiology Unit adds that 2,222 persons were released from treatment centres yesterday, raising the country’s COVID-19 recoveries to 344,381. Meanwhile, Health Promotion Bureau (HPB) Director Dr. Ranjith Batuwanthudawa said one of the reasons for delays in fixing COVID-19 data inaccuracies was the lack of a real-time data system.

“Correct reports are issued by the districts. However, in order to be entered into the Epidemiology Unit’s system, complete reports with the patient’s name, age, and the type of test is required,” he noted.