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By Shailendree Wickrama Adittiya
COVID-19 case count yesterday crossed the 600,000 mark with the detection of 840 more patients.
Latest detections include 834 persons from the New Year cluster and six overseas returnees. This is the third day in a row where COVID-19 detections have exceeded 800.
On Thursday, 824 persons from the New Year cluster and three Sri Lankan overseas returnees tested positive for COVID-19. The Health Promotion Bureau states that 8,242 PCR tests and 5,575 rapid antigen tests were conducted on Thursday.
According to Dr. Anthony Mendis of the National Hospital of Sri Lanka (NHSL), a significant increase in COVID-19 cases has been observed this week.
“There are two high dependency units at the National Hospital of Sri Lanka and all beds in these units are occupied. We did not have even a quarter of these numbers a week ago. We see the emergence of a wave and we must improve our immunity in order to face this wave,” he said.
According to Primary Health Care, Epidemics and COVID Disease Control State Minister Dr. Sudarshini Fernandopulle, more wards are being dedicated for additional COVID-19 patients at the NHSL.
She too urged the public to get vaccinated.
“We have given people opportunities to get the booster dose across the country. As of now, only 4.8 million persons have received the booster dose. If we look at [Thursday], only 26,000 persons received the booster dose,” Pharmaceutical Production, Supply and Regulation State Minister Channa Jayasumana said.
He added that the administration of the booster dose was not taking place at a satisfactory speed, especially since the public is disregarding the importance of vaccination due to the relatively low COVID-19 fatalities.
However, he warned that the country may see an increase in COVID-19 patients during the first two weeks of February.
A total of 600,203 persons have tested positive for COVID-19 in the country. This includes 495,048 persons from the New Year cluster, 82,785 persons from the Peliyagoda cluster, 9,097 persons from the Prisons cluster, and 3,059 persons from the Divulapitiya cluster.
In addition to this, 7,132 Sri Lankan overseas returnees and 328 foreigners make up the country’s imported cases.
The Epidemiology Unit states that 121,024 persons from Colombo, 103,315 persons from Gampaha, 54,486 persons from Kalutara, 39,407 persons from Galle, and 28,938 persons from Kurunegala have tested positive for COVID-19.
During the third wave of the pandemic, 88,727 patients from Colombo, 84,781 patients from Gampaha and 47,428 patients from Kalutara were detected.
At present, 15,888 persons are under medical or home-based care and 2,640 persons suspected of having COVID-19 are under observation.
The country’s COVID-19 recoveries rose to 569,043 with 214 persons released from care yesterday.
