Daily COVID-19 detections rise to 829

• 820 persons from New Year cluster and nine overseas arrivals test positive for COVID-19
• Country’s total case count rises to 598,536, includes 493,404 from New Year cluster
• 7,120 Sri Lankan overseas arrivals and 328 foreigners among imported cases
• 14,656 persons under medical or home-based care

 

By Shailendree Wickrama Adittiya

Sri Lanka’s daily COVID-19 detections rose to 829 yesterday, having remained below 800 for over a month.

Epidemiology Unit data shows that daily detections have remained below 800 since the second week of December.

However, 820 persons from the New Year cluster and nine overseas arrivals tested positive for COVID-19 yesterday.

The previous day, 667 persons from the New Year cluster and five Sri Lankan overseas returnees tested positive for the virus. The Health Promotion Bureau states that 6,311 PCR tests and 3,022 rapid antigen tests were conducted on Tuesday.

Sri Lanka’s total COVID-19 case count has risen to 598,536. This includes 493,404 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, 7,120 Sri Lankan overseas returnees and 328 foreigners have also tested positive for COVID-19.

According to the Epidemiology Unit, 120,584 detections from Colombo, 103,127 detections from Gampaha, 54,409 detections from Kalutara, 39,256 detections from Galle, and 28,912 detections from Kurunegala are included in the country total.

Western Province detections during the third wave of the pandemic include 88,287 persons from Colombo, 84,593 persons from Gampaha, and 47,351 persons from Kalutara.

At present, 14,656 persons are under medical or home-based care and 2,663 persons suspected of having COVID-19 are under observation.

Sri Lanka’s COVID-19 recoveries rose to 568,637 with 131 persons released from care yesterday.