More than one million PCR tests performed in SL: Health Ministry

• Highest number of PCR tests, 133,188 had been conducted by the Medical Research Institute in Borella

By Darshana Sanjeewa Balasuriya   

The number of Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) tests conducted to identify Covid-19 infected in the country has passed one million in number yesterday, the Health Ministry said.   

Accordingly, a total number of 1,011,919 PCR tests have been performed as of Saturday.   

PCR tests were currently being conducted at 28 locations including hospitals, universities and laboratories island-wide.   

The highest number of PCR tests, 133,188 had been conducted by the Medical Research Institute in Borella.   
In addition, 69,425 PCR tests  had been performed at the Karapitiya Hospital.    The highest number of PCR tests conducted within a day performed had been on Saturday (12) which was 17,425.    Meanwhile, a total of 760 people were confirmed positive of COVID-19 on Saturday. Among them, 397 were identified from Colombo, 136 from the Kalutara District and 55 from the Kandy District.    The total number of COVID-19 positive cases reported from Minuwangoda and the Peliyagoda Fish Market clusters stood at 28,498.   

Up to Saturday (12), a total of 32,134 people have been confirmed COVID-19 positive from all over the country, including the deceased. Altogether 23,303 fully-recovered COVID-19 patients had been so far discharged from hospitals and the rest 8,682  were still under treatment in hospitals and care centres.