Sri Lanka's COVID-19 cases hits 1278 after record daily infections

COLOMBO (News1st) : Sri Lanka's coronavirus infections rose to 1278 after a record 96 patients tested positive for the virus on Tuesday - the highest single day toll in the country. Official figures show that 556 patients are currently receiving treatment while 712 have recovered since the virus started spreading in the country on March 11. Seventeen people had recovered from the virus on Tuesday. The country's coronavirus cases had spiked along with the return of Sri Lankan expatriates who are being repatriated gradually and sent to quarantine centres. More than 100 coronavirus cases have been reported recently among those who had returned from several countries including Kuwait - which accounts for most of the cases. The novel coronavirus has claimed 10 lives in the country, with the latest casualty being reported on Monday, of a woman who had returned from Kuwait. More than 4500 people are currently undergoing quarantine at four centres managed by defence units, army chief Lieutenant General Shavendra Silva said.