• 6,224 PCR tests conducted on Thursday
• Total patient count rises to 586,746
• Includes 482,010 from New Year cluster
• 11,471 persons under medical or home-based care
• COVID-19 recoveries rise to 560,313

By Shailendree Wickrama Adittiya

Sri Lanka’s COVID-19 case count rose to 586,746 with the detection of 563 COVID-19 patients yesterday.

The patients detected yesterday include 561 persons from the New Year cluster and two overseas arrivals. According to the Health Promotion Bureau, 6,224 PCR tests were conducted yesterday.

On Wednesday, 419 COVID-19 patients were detected. Of this, 417 persons were from the New Year cluster and two were Sri Lankan overseas arrivals. The Health Promotion Bureau states that 9,797 PCR tests and 5,509 rapid antigen tests were conducted on Wednesday.

A total of 482,010 patients from the New Year cluster, 82,785 patients from the Peliyagoda cluster, 9,065 patients from the Prisons cluster, and 3,059 patients from the Divulapitiya cluster have been detected.

The country’s imported cases include 7,022 Sri Lankan overseas arrivals and 328 foreigners.

The Epidemiology Unit states that 117,514 persons from Colombo, 101,313 persons from Gampaha, 53,843 persons from Kalutara, 38,227 persons from Galle, and 28,614 persons from Kurunegala have tested positive for COVID-19.

COVID-19 detections during the third wave of the pandemic include 85,217 persons from Colombo, 82,779 persons from Gampaha, and 46,785 persons from Kalutara.

At present, 11,471 persons are under medical or home-based care and 2,244 persons suspected of having COVID-19 are under observation.

The country’s COVID-19 recoveries rose to 560,313 with 228 persons released from care yesterday.

• 18 more COVID-19 fatalities confirmed

• 169,522 persons vaccinated against COVID-19