COLOMBO, May 15 (Xinhua) -- The total number of infected COVID-19 patients in Sri Lanka reached 138,085 on Saturday after 2,269 new patients were reported the previous day, official statistics from the Health Ministry showed here.
Out of the total number reported since the first local patient was detected in March last year, 110,108 patients had recovered and been discharged from hospitals.
A total of 923 deaths have been reported from the virus.
Sri Lanka is presently in the midst of a third wave of the pandemic after a new variant of the coronavirus was detected and is spreading rapidly across the country, infecting a younger population who require critical care and oxygen.
In the month of May alone, over 20,000 patients have been recorded.
In order to stop the spread, authorities on Thursday declared an islandwide travel restriction requiring everyone to stay at home and allowing only essential services to operate. The travel restriction will be lifted on Monday at 4:00 a.m. local time.
Health authorities said hospitals and intensive care units have been filled to the maximum with the rising number of patients. The army is putting up temporary structures next to hospitals and equip them with beds and medical facilities to treat the incoming patients.
The Health Ministry has made it mandatory to wear masks and maintain social distance.
Anyone caught defying these guidelines could be arrested and fined, the police said. Enditem