692 TOURISTS IN SL: FIVE POSITIVE FOR COVID-19

COLOMBO (News 1st): There are 692 tourists in different parts of the country at present; of which, five have so far been confirmed positive for the COVID-19 virus, Dr. Hemantha Herath, the Deputy Director-General of Health Services told reporters on Friday (Jan. 08). "All necessary measures will be implemented to avoid further spread of the virus in the country, through the infected tourists; this does not mean, each and every tourist that arrives in the country is a virus carrier," Dr. Hemantha Herath pointed out. The Deputy Health Director made this statement against the backdrop of the government's 'Tourism Revival Pilot Project' currently taking place, to uplift the industry that took a major hit in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic. As part of the project, several groups of Ukrainian tourists have arrived in the country. Meanwhile, the total number of confirmed COVID-19 cases in Sri Lanka stands at 47,305, after 524 new COVID-19 cases were reported in the country on Friday (Jan. 08). According to the Department of Government Information, all new cases are associates of the Peliyagoda cluster. At present, there are 6766 active COVID-19 patients receiving treatment; while, 40,317 patients have so far recovered.