COLOMBO– Sri Lanka’s epidemiological sleuths are probing a possible foreign link to a new coronavirus cluster that developed at an apparel factory and now expanded to over 2000 confirmed COVID-19 cases.
“We have investigated the origin of the Minuwangoda cluster through several facets,” Army Commander Lt. General Shavendra Silva, who is also head of anti-COVID-19 task force told privately owned television channel. “It is now at a stage involving some foreign arrivals. We will be able to know for sure in the future,” he said, explaining that people come from abroad, they stay at hotels and sometimes there could be lapses there.
He said if such an occurrence is confirmed the task force will let the nation know.
General Silva had said earlier that investigators, based on factory records, had narrowed down about 10 persons at the Brandix Minuwangoda factory who had fallen sick from around September 23.
There was also a possible early case around September 15 and epidemiological detectives are chasing after each of the possibilities and had also investigated a link to a prison but had drawn a blank he said.
To find whether they had early infections and recovered, antigen tests were conducted he added.
Officials have said the spike in cases is a single cluster so far and maintained there is no community transmission.
Sri Lanka confirmed 47 cases in the cluster by 11:30 a.m. on Monday (19), expanding the cluster total to 2122 and Sri Lanka’s coronavirus count to 5585.
-economynext.com