714 test positive for COVID-19

■ Total patient count rises to 561,059 ■ 6,437 PCR and 3,779 rapid antigen tests conducted ■ 17,995 persons under medical or home-based ■ COVID-19 recoveries rise to 528,806

A total of 714 more persons tested for COVID-19 yesterday, raising the daily detections to 561,059.

All patients detected yesterday were from the New Year cluster.

The epidemiology Unit data shows a total of 456,232 from the New year cluster and 9,053 patients from the Prisons cluster. The local cases also include 82,785 persons from the Peliyagoda cluster and 3,059 persons from the Divulapitiya cluster.

The imported COVID-19 cases consist of 6,974 Sri Lankans and 324 foreigners.

According to the hPB data, 6,437 PCR tests and 3,779 rapid antigen tests were carried out yesterday, with daily testing dropping just below 15,000.

The district distribution of COVID-19 detections shows 114,744 persons from Colombo, 97,988 persons from Gampaha,

52,818 persons from Kalutara, 35,179 persons from Galle, and 27,191 persons from Kurunegala.

As of yesterday, 17,995 persons were under medical or home-based care, with hospitals

monitoring 1,983 persons suspected of having COVID-19. The epidemiology Unit states that the country’s COVID-19 recoveries rose to 528,806 with 406 persons leaving hospitals yesterday.