• 663,469 COVID-19 patients detected in total
• Includes 75,854 detections since 1 January
• Active cases rise to 828
• Three persons released from care

By Shailendree Wickrama Adittiya

Sri Lanka’s COVID-19 case count rose to 663,469, following the detection of 43 COVID-19 patients yesterday.

The previous day, 18 persons tested positive for COVID-19. The Health Promotion Bureau states that 1,034 PCR tests and 473 rapid antigen tests were conducted on Tuesday.

The country’s total COVID-19 detections include 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.

A total of 75,854 COVID-19 patients have been detected this year.

In addition to this, 7,242 Sri Lankan returnees from overseas and 328 foreigners have also tested positive for COVID-19.

According to the Epidemiology Unit, 139,300 patients from Colombo, 114,430 patients from Gampaha, 58,246 patients from Kalutara, 45,653 patients from Galle, and 31,498 patients from Kurunegala have been detected.

During the third wave of the pandemic, 107,003 persons from Colombo, 95,896 persons from Gampaha, and 51,188 persons from Kalutara tested positive for COVID-19.

At present, 828 persons are under medical or home-based care and 145 persons suspected of having COVID-19 are under observation.

According to the Epidemiology Unit, three persons were released from hospitals and home-based care yesterday, raising the country’s COVID-19 recoveries to 646,134.

Health officials confirm one COVID-19 death