Sri Lanka imposes coronavirus curfew in 2 Police Divisions outside Colombo
After COVID-19 patient identified from Divulapitiya
COLOMBO – Sri Lanka on Sunday (4) imposed curfew in Divulapitiya and Minuwangoda Police Divisions, in the Gampaha district north of the Colombo, after a 39-year-old woman was diagnosed as COVID-19 positive earlier in the day. Health authorities also urged the public to take more precautionary measures to prevent the spread of the virus.
A statement from the Government Department of Information, issued at 9:30 a.m. Sunday, said the police curfew, imposed with immediate effect, would be in force until further notice.
A statement issued at 7:15 a.m. confirmed 39-year-old woman living in Divulapitiya had been diagnosed with COVID-19 and had been admitted to the Infectious Diseases Hospital (IDH).
She had been initially admitted to the Gampaha Hospital to be treated for a fever and had been identified as COVID-19 positive when she was subjected to a PCR test at the time of discharge.
The statement said nearly 15 staff members of Gampaha hospital, where she was receiving treatment and 40 staff members of the private company she works for, were already in home quarantine. Further close associates of her are being identified and tests are being carried out on how the woman became infected, the statement said, adding that further action will be taken on the PCR investigations carried out on the associates.
It also said that investigations were underway to determine how she got infected. Health authorities have repeatedly said that there had been no community transmission of the virus for several months, but they have also urged the public to be cautious and abide by the health guidelines.
The women is reportedly employed at a reputed apparel firm, which in a statement later in the day acknowledged that an apparel worker in its manufacturing facility in Minuwangoda had been confirmed as COVID-19 positive. It said the rigorous protocol implemented across the firm, and the immediate response and support received from the PHI and relevant health authorities of Sri Lanka had enabled the early detection of the patient, ensuring her timely transfer to IDH for immediate treatment and mitigation of any further spread of the virus.
It also said all necessary measures to ensure complete containment of the virus have been implemented with immediate effect, including the rigorous disinfection of the affected work site. “The 45 other workers of the facility that had come into contact with the patient have been quarantined immediately with their families and will undergo PCR testing for further measure,” it added.
Sri Lanka’s COVID-19 tally stands at 3,396 patients, with 3254 recoveries, 129 active cases and 13 deaths. Almost all the active, except for Sunday’s confirmation are those who have returned from abroad.
-ENCL