• 655,383 COVID-19 patients detected to date
• Includes 550,440 from New Year cluster
• 20,305 persons currently receiving treatment
• 81 persons released from care

By Shailendree Wickrama Adittiya

Daily COVID-19 detections dropped below 500 yesterday, with 467 persons testing positive for COVID-19.

According to the Epidemiology Unit, daily COVID-19 detections have remained above 500 since the first week of January. The situation report published by the Epidemiology Unit shows 629 detections on 4 January and 365 detections the previous day.

The 467 COVID-19 patients detected yesterday were from the New Year cluster.

The previous day, 580 persons from the New Year cluster tested positive for COVID-19. The Health Promotion Bureau states that 3,795 PCR tests and 1,957 rapid antigen tests were conducted on Thursday.

The country’s COVID-19 case count currently stands at 655,383. This includes 550,440 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 terms of imported cases, 7,236 Sri Lankan returnees from overseas and 328 foreigners have tested positive for COVID-19.

The Epidemiology Unit states that 136,615 patients from Colombo, 113,323 patients from Gampaha, 57,694 patients from Kalutara, 44,725 patients from Galle, and 31,071 patients from Kurunegala have been detected.

During the third wave of the pandemic, 104,318 persons from Colombo, 94,789 persons from Gampaha, and 50,636 persons from Kalutara tested positive for COVID-19.

At present, 20,305 persons are under medical or home-based care and 1,162 persons suspected of having COVID-19 are under observation.

The Epidemiology Unit states that 81 persons were discharged from care yesterday, raising the country’s COVID-19 recoveries to 618,697.

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