While addressing the media, Chief Epidemiologist Dr. Sudath Samaraweera stated that, they are confident that the COVID-19 pandemic could be brought under control in the coming weeks with the support from the right parties.

Associated with the Minuwangoda Brandix factory and the Peliyagoda fish market coronavirus cluster, the highest number of COVID patients, among the 627 patients reported yesterday, was reported from the Colombo District. According to the National Operation Centre for Prevention of COVID-19 Outbreak, 402 patients were reported.

The number also includes 104 persons from the Welikada Prison and the Magazine Prison.

From the Gampaha District 66 patients were reported, 35 patients were reported from the Ratnapura District and 30 patients were reported from the Kalutara District.

The total number of COVID patients in Sri Lanka stands at 26,038, while 19,032 patients have recovered and discharged, while another 6,877 patients are still receiving treatment at the hospitals.

Police Media Spokesman DIG Ajith Rohana stated that about a thousand police officers who were infected with the coronavirus have fully recovered.

Meanwhile, the suspect in Atalugama, Bandaragama who obstructed a Public Health Inspector who had visited to transfer a COVID infected patient to a treatment centre was arrested and remanded until 17 December after he was produced before the Panadura Magistrate via video.

He was arrested by a police officer who had entered his house in the Bogahawatta, Atalugama adhering to health security measures and was later brought to the Alothiyawa main police post in Atalugama. After that the suspect was produced before the Magistrate through video technology.

Army Commander Lieutenant General Shavendra Silva requested the people of Atalugama to support the health authorities.

Meanwhile, two kitchen staff and a kitchen observer at the Colombo National Hospital were diagnosed with the coronavirus.

An accident has taken place between Namalgama and Aselapura on the Polonnaruwa - Batticaloa main road when a bus carrying COVID infected persons to the Punani Treatment Centre had collided with a normal bus headed to Kaduruwela, Kalmunai.

The 23 COVID patients who were present on the bus at the time of the accident and two had sustained minor injuries.

Due to the second coronavirus wave reported since 04 October, 116 COVID deaths were recorded thus far.

Among them, 47% or 55 deaths are in the age group of 71 years. The number of COVID deaths reported between the ages of 61 and 70 was 23, while 18 deaths were reported in the age group of 51 to 60 years. Reports also show that 13 deaths were reported in the age group of 41 to 50 years and that four deaths were reported in the age group of 31 to 40 years, Three COVID deaths were reported in the age group of 10 to 30 years.