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Wednesday, 2 September 2020 00:20 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}
By Shailendree Wickrama Adittiya
The total number of confirmed COVID-19 cases rose to 3,092 yesterday, with the identification of 43 new patients.
The new cases include 28 arrivals from Qatar, five from Kuwait, one arrival from the UAE, and one arrival from India, and the Epidemiology Unit includes 22 of the new cases in the 59 COVID-19 cases identified during the 24-hour period ending at 10 a.m. yesterday.
Yesterday’s situation report by the Epidemiology Unit states that all 59 cases were overseas arrivals and include three foreigners.
To date, 1,146 Sri Lankan returnees from abroad and 43 foreigners have tested positive for COVID-19 and the Epidemiology Unit states that the local COVID-19 cases include 950 Navy personnel and their close contacts.
In addition to this, the Army states that 639 persons connected to the Kandakadu Treatment and Rehabilitation Centre have also tested positive, of which 518 are detainees, 67 are staff members, 48 are family members and close associates, and five are guest staffers.
There are currently 190 persons receiving medical care at various hospitals, including 66 at the Welikande Base Hospital, 38 at the Iranawila Hospital, 35 at the National Institute of Infectious Diseases (NIID), and two at the Colombo East Base Hospital.
While the number of active cases increased from 132 at 10 a.m. on Monday, the number of COVID-19 recoveries also rose in the country. The Epidemiology Unit states that 2,879 persons have recovered from COVID-19 thus far.
This includes 11 persons discharged from various hospitals during the 24-hour period ending at 10 a.m. yesterday, of which five were from the Welikande Base Hospital, three were from the Iranawila Hospital, two were from the NIID, and one was from the Minuwangoda Base Hospital. At present, there are no COVID-19 patients at the Minuwangoda Base Hospital.
According to the Army, 624 COVID-19 patients connected to the Kandakadu Treatment and Rehabilitation Centre have recovered and 15 persons are currently under medical care.
The country’s recovery rate is currently 93.69%, while its fatality rate is 0.39%. A total of 12 COVID-19-related deaths have been reported from Sri Lanka thus far.
The Health Promotion Bureau adds that 228,052 PCR tests have been performed in the island, including 1,941 on Monday.
Meanwhile, 187 persons left quarantine centres yesterday having completed the process and undergoing a PCR test. This includes 98 persons from the Hotel Farm Garden Quarantine Centre, 79 persons from the Forest Rock Garden Quarantine Centre, six persons from the Kalpitiya Ruwala Quarantine Centre, and four persons from the Mount Lavinia Hotel Quarantine Centre, the Army added.
A total of 7,576 persons remain in quarantine at 71 centres managed by the Army, Navy, and Air Force, while a total of 35,142 persons have left quarantine centres thus far.
The Army, in a statement issued yesterday, added that 265 persons from Dubai, 221 persons from Kuwait, 178 persons from Hyderabad, 67 persons from Qatar, and seven persons from Chennai arrived in the island yesterday.
All overseas arrivals will be directed to quarantine centres in the island.
The Army added: “Other than detainees, associates, expatriates, and foreigners, not a single COVID-19 positive case was reported from elsewhere in the country. It is the responsibility of all Sri Lankans to continue to adhere to health practices in order to wipe out this pandemic from our country.”
