Sri Lanka confirmed highest daily record of 865 Covid-19 cases on Friday amid curfew expanded in affected areas

Sri Lanka’s highest number of COVID-19 patients identified in a day was recorded on Friday (23) , with over 860 persons testing positive. According to the Department of Government Information, 865 patients were identified on Friday, of which the majority were from the Peliyagoda Fish Market sub-cluster and the Minuwangoda Brandix cluster. 

Among the infections in the new cluster, 535 patients were those who contracted the virus at the Peliyagoda fish market and 217 of their close contacts.

Other cases included 20 from the Beruwala fisheries harbour and five from the Galle fisheries harbour, the department’s statement added.

With the total number of cases in both the Minuwangoda and Peliyagoda clusters now standing at 3682, Sri Lanka’s COVID-19 tally has risen to 7153.

A Coronavirus curfew in Sri Lanka capital Colombo has been widened to Maradana and Dematagoda suburbs. Curfews have also been imposed till Monday 0500hours in Paiyagala, Beruwala and Aluthgama in the Kaluthara district.

Governmnet  has already imposed quarantine curfew in 35 police areas in Gampaha, Kegalle, Kalutara, Colombo and Kurunegala as clusters developed.

The Health Ministry also requested the public to continue to adhere to COVID-19 safety guidelines and Assistant Director General Health Services Dr. Hemantha Herath said: “Considering the speed at which this virus spreads, the chances of this developing into an uncontrollable level are high if public assistance is not duly received.”

He added: “The current situation is in no way one we cannot control. However, the public must take to heart that this is an extremely serious situation.”

Dr. Sudath Samaraweera, Chief Epidemiologist yesterday addressed concerns regarding community transmission in the country, saying that as per definitions provided by the World Health Organisation (WHO), what is seen in Sri Lanka is still a cluster with sub-clusters.