01 COVID-19 death on Thursday (18); Fatalities rise to 538

COLOMBO (News 1st): The Director-General of Health Services confirmed that ONE (01) COVID-19 death was reported in the country on Thursday (Mar. 18), raising Sri Lanka’s COVID-19 death toll to 538. The deceased is a 60-year-old male from Ibbagamuwa. He was diagnosed as infected with the COVID-19 virus while receiving treatment at Colombo-North Teaching Hospital and transferred to Mulleriyawa Base Hospital, where he died on 17.03.2021. The cause of death is mentioned as shock due to blood poisoning and Covid pneumonia. Meanwhile, another 162 new positive cases were reported on Thursday (Mar. 18), raising the COVID-19 caseload in the country to 89,175, the Department of Government Information said. As of Friday morning (Mar. 19), there are 2693 active patients receiving treatment, while 85,944 have recovered. According to the Epidemiology Unit, 9136 people received the COVID-19 jab yesterday (18); and so far, 815,585 people have been vaccinated in the country.