5,741 test positive for COVID-19 over the weekend

• 2,859 patients detected yesterday, total rises to 183,452
• 36 succumb to virus, total deaths increase to 1,441
• New Year cluster exceeds Peliyagoda cluster, becoming largest COVID-19 cluster in country
• 32,186 persons under medical care, recoveries rise to 149,825

Monday, 31 May 2021

A total of 5,741 persons tested positive for COVID-19 over the weekend, including 2,859 persons yesterday, bringing the country’s total COVID-19 detections to 183,452.

The Divulapitiya, Peliyagoda, Prisons and New Year clusters have expanded to 176,889, with health authorities stating that 2,849 of the COVID-19 patients detected yesterday are linked to the New Year cluster.

Health authorities confirmed 36 COVID related deaths yesterday, which increased the total number of deaths in the island to 1,441. 

With yesterday’s detections, the New Year cluster has exceeded that Peliyagoda cluster, becoming the largest COVID-19 cluster in the country.

On Saturday, 2,882 persons tested positive for COVID-19, of which 2,728 were linked to the New Year cluster, 99 were linked to the Prisons cluster, and 55 were Sri Lankan returnees from abroad.

According to the Epidemiology Unit, 4,321 Sri Lankan returnees from abroad and 318 foreigners have tested positive for COVID-19 to date.

Not taking into account the COVID-19 patients detected yesterday, the country’s total patient count includes 82,785 patients linked to the Peliyagoda cluster, 82,314 patients linked to the New Year cluster, 5,882 patients linked to the Prisons cluster, and 3,059 patients linked to the Divulapitiya cluster.

The Epidemiology Unit states that of the 47,554 patients detected from Colombo District, 15,257 were from the third wave and that 13,320 patients were detected from Gampaha during the third wave, bringing the district total to 31,854.

With 11,604 detections during the third wave, the patients detected from Kalutara District have risen to 18,662. The Epidemiology Unit adds that 9,807 patients from Kandy, 8,960 patients from Kurunegala, and 7,542 patients from Galle have been detected to date.

The district distribution of patients includes 541 persons from Gampaha, 442 persons from Colombo, 241 persons from Kalutara, 205 persons from Nuwara Eliya, and 195 persons from Kurunegala who tested positive for COVID-19 on Saturday.

At present, 32,186 persons are under medical care, including 466 persons at the Punani Treatment Centre, 459 persons at the Neville Fernando Teaching Hospital, and 455 persons at the Bingiriya Treatment Centre. Hospitals are also observing 1,474 persons suspected of having COVID-19.

According to the Epidemiology Unit, 1,434 persons were discharged from hospitals yesterday having recovered from the virus. This includes 78 persons from the Bingiriya Treatment Centre, 68 persons from the Panideniya Treatment Centre, and 60 persons from the Kopai Treatment Centre. A total of 149,825 persons have recovered from COVID-19 to date.

According to the Health Promotion Bureau, 22,785 PCR tests were performed yesterday.

Meanwhile, the Sri Lanka Police stated that 914 persons were arrested for violating quarantine regulations during the 24-hour period ending at 6 a.m. yesterday.

“Quarantine regulations were introduced on 18 March 2020 and the highest number of arrests made in a day since then was during the 24-hour period ending at 6 a.m. on 30 May,” Police Spokesperson DIG Ajith Rohana said.