4,591 persons test positive for COVID-19

• Total COVID-19 detections rise to 416,961
• Over 300,000 from New Year cluster
• COVID-19 detections from Colombo District rise to 94,398
• 55,399 persons under medical or home-based care

 By Shailendree Wickrama Adittiya

The detection of 4,591 COVID-19 patients yesterday raised the country’s total COVID-19 patient count to 416,961.

The patients detected yesterday include 4,561 persons from the New Year cluster and 30 overseas arrivals. The Health Promotion Bureau states that 18,355 PCR tests were carried out yesterday.

On Thursday, 16,189 PCR tests and 4,886 rapid antigen tests were carried out and 4,602 COVID-19 patients were detected. The detections consist of 4,590 persons from the New Year cluster, seven persons from the Prisons cluster, and five Sri Lankan overseas arrivals.

According to the Epidemiology Unit, 309,354 persons from the New Year cluster, 8,139 persons from the Prisons cluster, 6,791 Sri Lankan overseas returnees and 328 foreigners have tested positive for COVID-19.

The district distribution of COVID-19 detections shows 94,398 persons from Colombo, 75,660 persons from Gampaha, 42,549 persons from Kalutara, 22,660 persons from Galle, and 19,656 persons from Kurunegala.

Western Province detections during the third wave of the pandemic consist of 62,101 persons from Colombo, 57,126 persons from Gampaha, and 35,491 persons from Kalutara.

At present, 55,399 persons are under medical or home-based care and hospitals are observing 3,340 persons suspected of having COVID-19.

The Epidemiology Unit states that 2,122 persons left hospitals yesterday, raising the country’s COVID-19 recoveries to 353,191.