Friday Apr 26, 2024
Friday Apr 26, 2024
Thursday, 14 October 2021 00:00 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}
By Shailendree Wickrama Adittiya
Sri Lanka’s COVID-19 case count rose to 528,415 with the detection of 680 COVID-19 positive persons yesterday.
The detections include 679 persons from the New Year cluster and one overseas arrival. According to the Health Promotion Bureau, 6,156 PCR tests were conducted yesterday.
On Tuesday, 5,849 PCR tests and 2,733 rapid antigen tests were conducted, and 671 COVID-19 patients were detected. This includes 670 persons from the New Year cluster and one person from the Prisons cluster.
The Epidemiology Unit states that 423,772 patients have been detected from the New Year cluster and 8,933 patients have been detected from the Prisons cluster.
Sri Lanka’s COVID-19 detections also include 82,785 persons from the Peliyagoda cluster and 3,059 persons from the Divulapitiya cluster.
The country’s imported cases include 6,944 Sri Lankans and 328 foreigners.
The district distribution of COVID-19 patients shows 111,662 persons from Colombo, 93,567 persons from Gampaha, 51,435 persons from Kalutara, 32,166 persons from Galle, and 25,432 persons from Kurunegala.
During the third wave of the pandemic, 79,365 persons from Colombo, 75,033 persons from Gampaha and 44,377 persons from Kalutara tested positive for COVID-19.
The Epidemiology Unit states that 491,238 persons have recovered from COVID-19 to date. This includes 438 persons who were released from care yesterday.
At present, 23,769 persons are under medical or home-based care and 2,669 persons suspected of having COVID-19 are under observation.
Meanwhile, Health Services Director General Dr. Asela Gunawardena said an expert committee had been appointed to prepare recommendations on Post-COVID Syndrome by the end of the month, following a meeting held yesterday. The recommendations will look at patient management for Post-COVID Syndrome.
According to National Eye Hospital of Sri Lanka Physician Dr. Waruna Gunathilake, global studies show that 10-30% of COVID-19 patients suffer from Post-COVID Syndrome. However, vaccinated persons are less likely to develop the condition, he said.
“There is discourse on a global level on if this can become a public health crisis. We cannot at this point comment on the severity of it, but it could be an issue in future,” Dr. Gunathilaka said.
