COLOMBO (News 1st); Sri Lankan Health Minister Pavithra Wanniarachchi told Parliament on Thursday (05) that the number of COVID-19 cases reported daily over the past week was between 2000 – 2500.

The Health Minister said 21,344 COVID-19 cases were reported in Sri Lanka from the 25th of July 2021.

During that same period 591 COVID-19 deaths were reported in the country she said.

A total of 134,179 PCR tests were carried out over the past 10 days, she said adding that there was a considerable increase in the number of people being COVID-19 in hospitals.

Health Minister Pavithra Wanniarachchi told Parliament that the 23, 804 Covid patients were treated in hospitals as of 23rd July, and this figure increased to 30,017 as of the 01st of August.

140 – 150 people were being treated in Intensive Care Units over the past 10 days, said the Health Minister.

She went on to note that all vaccines currently being used in Sri Lanka are responding positively to the variants that are spreading across the country.

Speaking on the country’s vaccination drive the health minister said 86% of the over 30 population in Sri Lanka has received either one or both vaccines against COVID-19.

18% of the population have been fully vaccinated, she added.

All above 30 will receive either one or both vaccines in the coming weeks, said the Health Minister adding by that time 50% of the over 30 population will be fully vaccinated.

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