COLOMBO, May 27 (Xinhua) -- Sri Lanka's number of COVID-19 patients jumped to above 1,300 on Wednesday after reporting 100 new cases within the past two days from the quarantine centers, Health Ministry statistics showed.
According to the Health Ministry, the country witnessed a sudden spike in cases after several local nationals, who were recently repatriated from Kuwait, tested positive for the virus.
Director General of Health Services Dr. Anil Jasinghe said the cases were likely to rise further as the results of more PCR tests were expected from those in quarantine.
Till Wednesday afternoon, the total positive patient count reached 1,319, out of which 732 have recovered and been discharged. Ten deaths have been reported.
Authorities on Monday temporarily halted overseas repatriations after a spike in cases among the returnees from Kuwait and said it would soon structure a new plan to repatriate local nationals stranded abroad.
Authorities relaxed a curfew in capital Colombo and on the outskirts of Gampaha earlier this week after two months as no public transmission of the virus had been reported since April 30, but urged the public and businesses to maintain strict health guidelines when leaving their homes. Enditem
