Colombo (News 1st); The death of a suicide victim was added to Sri Lanka’s COVID-19 death toll as the final rites are performed as per the COVID-19 protocols, said Chief Epidemiologist Dr. Sudath Samaraweera on Monday (02).

A postmortem PCR test carried out on a suicide victim revealed the individual was exposed to COVID-19, he added.

‘This is not a death directly linked to COVID-19,’ he said adding, however, it was added to the COVID-19 death toll in Sri Lanka as the victim was exposed to COVID-19.

Acting Deputy Director-General of Health Services Dr, Hemantha Herath said at times, a person is reported to have been exposed to COVID-19 after a postmortem PCR is carried out on a deceased individual.

He said there are instances when issues arise with regard to releasing the bodies of the deceased until the results of the PCR tests are received.

On Monday (02) morning, the Government Information Department said the epidemiology unit confirmed the postmortem examination of a patient who died on admission to the Panadura Base Hospital on the 31st confirmed he was infected with Covid-19 virus.

The deceased is a 27 years old male from Panadura and the death is reported to have been caused by suicide, it added.

The epidemiology unit reports this as the 22nd Covid-l9 death in the country, said the Government Information Department.

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