COLOMBO – Sri Lanka’s health officials detected another 12 COVID-19 infection cases in the Colombo Dockyard, a Sri Lankan shipbuilding unit of Japan’s Onomichi Dockyard on Monday (19), the National Operations Centre for the Prevention of COVID-19 (NOCPOC) said.
Out of the 12, six stay at the dockyard housing scheme in Bloemendhal Colombo 13, and are residents of Ragama, Matugama, Wananupuwa, Galle,Negambo and Mulatiyana Matara. Another 20 first-contacts found from the housing scheme were also sent to a quarantine facility in Jaffna, NOCPOC said.
Two COVID-19 patients found from the dockyard on Saturday (17), are residents of Batuwaththa and Kabaragala, Agulugaha. It is not clear how these workers contracted the virus.
Sri Lanka reported 87 confirmed COVID-19 cases by 1700 hours on Monday.
A COVID-19 update from the Government Department of Information, the 87 cases confirmed on Monday had expanded the Minuwangoda cluster to 2162.
Meanwhile, the NOCPCO announced that food markets and pharmacies in all areas where quarantine curfew has been imposed will remain open from 8:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m. on Tuesday (20).
Separately, Prof. Kapila Perera, Secretary Ministry of Education, said in a statement that allocations have been provided to fully equip the health facilities of the examination centres in order to protect the students sitting for their the GCE Advanced Level Examination in 2648 centres islandwide.
The statement said each School Development Society of the schools where the examinations are being held will be provided with Rs 15,000, to safeguard students from the virus. This is in addition to the facilities already provided by the Health Unit of the Ministry of Education, which include face masks, safety clothing and disinfectants, to safeguard the staff including the exam invigilators currently working in the various examination centres.
The Zonal Directors of Education have assured the GCE Advanced Level Examination is being conducted successfully without any interruption and that maximum efforts are being made to provide health care facilities to all the candidates as well as the staff, the Professor Perera said.
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