Over 100,000 PCR tests carried out in Sri Lanka

Sri Lanka has carried out over 100,000 Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) tests thus far, says the Minister of Health Pavithra Wanniarachchi.

Meanwhile, Sri Lanka reported 40 new infections of the COVID-19 virus yesterday (23). All new cases are returnees from overseas, confirmed the Ministry.

Twenty-nine of the new cases had arrived from India as a part of the crew of a ship anchored in the island and the remaining 11 cases were returnees from the United States.

They had all been subjected to PCR tests at the Bandaranaike International Airport (BIA) itself.

The number of imported coronavirus positive cases has spiked to 740. The cases include 313 Sri Lankans and 37 foreign nationals.

No new community infections have been reported in the country since April 30. It is to be noted that there have been no new cases reported from Sri Lanka Navy, the largest COVID-19 cluster in the country, for the past 5 days.

A total of 901 COVID-19 positive cases were detected among Sri Lanka Navy personnel and only 111 Navymen are currently under medical care as 790 of them have completely recovered from the disease and been discharged from the hospital.

The total count of recoveries in Sri Lanka currently stands at 1,548.

The Epidemiology Unit’s tally says that 432 active cases are currently under medical care.

Sri Lanka has confirmed 11 deaths due to the COVID-19.