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550 persons test positive for COVID-19

Thursday, 6 January 2022 02:50 -     - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

  • Total patient count rises to 589,479, includes 484,725 from New Year cluster
  • No reduction in random testing, Deputy Director of Health Services says
  • Adds that COVID-19 cases could increase rapidly if Omicron spreads in SL
  • 13,002 persons currently under medical or home-based care

By Shailendree Wickrama Adittiya

Sri Lanka’s COVID-19 case count rose to 589,479 with the detection of 550 COVID-19 positive persons yesterday.

According to the Department of Government Information, 548 persons from the New Year cluster and two overseas arrivals tested positive for the virus yesterday.

On Tuesday, 620 persons from the New Year cluster and nine Sri Lankan overseas returnees tested positive for COVID-19. The Health Promotion Bureau states that 6,638 PCR tests and 3,670 rapid antigen tests were conducted on Tuesday.

“We are continuing the allocated number of random testing and testing has not been reduced. The Omicron variant is now in Sri Lanka. This can spread. If it does, patient numbers can increase in a dangerous manner like we see in the US and India,” Deputy Director of Health Services Dr. Hemantha Herath said yesterday.

He added that people cannot be forcibly vaccinated or tested so public cooperation and assistance is needed for COVID-19 control.

In total, 484,725 persons from the New Year cluster, 82,785 persons from the Peliyagoda cluster, 9,068 persons from the Prisons cluster and 3,059 persons from the Divulapitiya cluster have tested positive for COVID-19.

The Epidemiology Unit states that 7,050 Sri Lankan overseas returnees and 328 foreigners are among the country’s imported cases.

According to the district distribution of COVID-19 cases, 117,927 patients from Colombo, 101,784 patients from Gampaha, 53,953 patients from Kalutara, 38,427 patients from Galle, and 28,740 patients from Kurunegala have been detected.

During the third wave of the pandemic, 85,630 persons from Colombo, 83,250 persons from Gampaha, and 46,895 persons from Kalutara tested positive for COVID-19.

At present, 13,002 persons are under medical or home-based care and 2,517 persons suspected of having COVID-19 are under observation.

The Epidemiology Unit states that 141 persons were released from care yesterday, raising the country’s COVID-19 recoveries to 561,412.

 

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