748 persons test positive for COVID-19

• 6,849 PCR tests conducted yesterday
• Total patient count rises to 569,171
• Includes 464,292 patients linked to New Year cluster
• 11,555 persons under medical or home-based care

By Shailendree 

Wickrama Adittiya

Sri Lanka’s COVID-19 detections rose to 569,171 with 748 persons testing positive for COVID-19 yesterday.

The patients detected yesterday were from the New Year cluster and the Health Promotion Bureau states that 6,849 PCR tests were conducted yesterday.

The previous day, 6,191 PCR tests and 2,855 rapid antigen tests were conducted. The patients detected on Monday include 739 persons from the New Year cluster and two Sri Lankan overseas arrivals.

The Epidemiology Unit states that 464,292 persons from the New Year cluster, 82,785 persons from the Peliyagoda cluster, 9,054 persons from the Prisons cluster, and 3,059 persons from the Divulapitiya cluster have been detected to date.

In terms of imported cases, 6,991 Sri Lankan overseas returnees and 328 foreigners have tested positive for COVID-19.

The district distribution of COVID-19 patients shows 115,615 persons from Colombo, 98,913 persons from Gampaha, 53,182 persons from Kalutara, 35,814 persons from Galle, and 27,751 persons from Kurunegala.

Western Province detections during the third wave of the pandemic include 83,318 persons from Colombo, 80,379 persons from Gampaha, and 46,124 persons from Kalutara.

At present, 11,555 persons are under medical or home-based care and 2,708 persons suspected of having COVID-19 are under observation.

The country’s COVID-19 recoveries rose to 543,111 with 423 persons released from care yesterday.