Colombo, July 2 Sri Lanka's active Covid-19 cases reduced to 227 on Thursday as 79 more patients recovered and were discharged from hospital, according to health ministry's statistics. The country has to date detected 2,054 cases of the Covid-19 since the first local patient was detected in March but as of Thursday morning, 1,827 patients had been successfully treated and released, Xinhua reported citing officials.
Eleven deaths have been reported from the virus. Sri Lanka's Army Commander, Lt. General Shavendra Silva, who is heading the national operation centre for the prevention of Covid-19, told a local media outlet earlier this week that the country had successfully been able to halt a public transmission of the virus as no new cases were reported from the society since April 30. New cases were now reported among those who were being repatriated from overseas but they had no contact with society as they were directly transported to quarantine centres. Silva said Sri Lanka's containment of the Covid-19 was a success story to share with the world and post-Covid-19 Sri Lanka would have a new place on the global map. Local authorities, since last week, have started opening up archaeological sites, museums, parks, and cinemas after nearly three months due to the easing of the virus spread, but said strict health guidelines would remain in place to ensure the health of the public. Sri Lanka is all set to open its international airports next month as soon as local repatriations end.
( With inputs from IANS )