Sri Lanka saw another surge in its Covid-19 figures yesterday (24) with 459 persons testing positive for the virus.

Department of Government Information said 458 of them are close contacts of earlier cases linked to the Peliyagoda cluster. The remaining one was identified as an arrival from Qatar.

The new development has brought the total number of Covid-19 cases confirmed in the country to 20,967. Infections grew substantially after a new cluster emerged from the Brandix apparel factory in Minuwangoda in early October. As the numbers continued to soar, the Peliyagoda fish market became the new epicentre of contagion.

The Minuwangoda-Peliyagoda cluster has registered 17,436 positive cases in total since its outbreak last month.

Colombo District has reported 7,467 positive cases since the 4th of October and continues to lead the cases tally district-wise. Reports revealed that 259 of the infections found yesterday were from Colombo. Kalutara District meanwhile confirmed 78 new coronavirus cases, while Gampaha District followed with 23.

Nineteen more police officers, 17 Special Task Force (STF) officers were also tested positive for the virus yesterday.

Total coronavirus infections detected from prisons across the country reached 708 with 24 new cases. Further, 10 miscellaneous positive cases were also found yesterday.

A detailed account on the Covid-19 cases confirmed yesterday is as follows:

Colombo District – 259
Slave Island – 90
Kollupitiya – 01
Wellawatte – 23
Dematagoda – 21
Maradana – 39
Aluthkade – 06
Kotahena/Bloemendhal – 44
Grandpas – 26
Mattakkuliya – 06
Ratmalana – 01
Mirihana – 01
Wellampitiya – 01

Gampaha District – 23
Gampaha – 01
Biyagama – 11
Ganemulla – 03
Amlwathuhiripitiya – 02
Meegahawatte – 01
Nawagamuwa – 01
Nittambuwa – 02
Sapugaskanda – 01
Yakkala – 01

Kalutara District – 78
Kandy District – 16
Galle – 04
Nuwara-Eliya – 04
Jaffna – 01
Matara – 01
Ratnapura – 01
Anuradhapura – 01

Police – 19
STF – 17
Prisons – 24
Miscellaneous – 10