• 6,479 PCR tests conducted on Monday
• Total patient count rises to 521,218, includes 416,571 from New Year cluster
• Active cases drop with the deduction of 18,230 persons discharged from home-based care
• Health officials urge public to adhere to guidelines
• Warn that failure to do so could result in rise in COVID-19 patients

By Shailendree Wickrama Adittiya

Sri Lanka’s COVID-19 detections rose to 521,218 with 786 persons testing positive for COVID-19 yesterday.

According to health officials, 786 persons from the New Year cluster tested positive for COVID-19 yesterday. A total of 6,479 PCR tests were conducted yesterday.

On Sunday, 7,566 PCR tests and 3,086 rapid antigen tests were conducted, and 802 COVID-19 patients were detected. This includes 764 persons from the New Year cluster, 36 persons from the Prisons cluster, and two Sri Lankan overseas arrivals.

The Epidemiology Unit states that 416,571 persons from the New Year cluster, 82,785 persons from the Peliyagoda cluster, 8,833 persons from the Prisons cluster, and 3,059 persons from the Divulapitiya cluster are included in the country’s total COVID-19 detections.

In addition to this, 6,942 Sri Lankan overseas arrivals and 328 foreigners have also tested positive for COVID-19.

The district distribution of COVID-19 patients shows 110,722 patients from Colombo, 92,596 patients from Gampaha, 50,953 patients from Kalutara, 31,422 patients from Galle, and 25,151 patients from Kurunegala.

During the third wave of the pandemic, 78,425 persons from Colombo, 74,062 persons from Gampaha, and 43,895 persons from Kalutara tested positive for COVID-19.

At present, 30,742 persons are under medical or home-based care.

The drop in active cases is due to the deduction of 18,230 discharges of home-based tri-forces, police, prison and other persons completing 10 days without admissions from 23 September to 3 October.

According to Tertiary Care Services Director Dr. Ayanthi Karunarathne, 6,035 persons are currently under home-based care.

The Epidemiology Unit states that 658 persons were released from care yesterday, raising the country’s COVID-19 recoveries to 477,374.

Meanwhile, Health Services Director General Dr. Asela Gunawardena urged the public to follow health guidelines, stating that they would have to impose strict restrictions if people do not adhere to guidelines as 

this could result in an increase in COVID-19 spread.

“Our attention has been drawn to post-COVID syndrome and the technical committee will discuss this next Wednesday,” he added.

• 43 more COVID-19 deaths confirmed on Sunday

• Shipment of over 300,000 doses of Pfizer reach Sri Lanka