Quarantine curfew extended to Gampaha district till Monday
As 49 test positive at the Peliyagoda fish market; Manning Market ordered closed
COLOMBO –The government on Wednesday (21) announced a quarantine curfew for the entire Gampaha district effective 10:00 p.m. Wednesday until 5:00 a.m. Monday (26), as the daily tally of COVID-19 confirmations soared to over 150, with 49 testing positive from the Peliyagoda fish market. The Pettah Manning Market was also ordered closed till Monday as a precaution to prevent the spread of the novel coronavirus.
The Manning Market Traders’ Association said the Market will be closed from 10:00 a.m. Thursday (22) until 5:00 a.m. on Monday.
The National Operational Centre for Prevention of COVID-19 Outbreak (NOCPCO) also announced that five villages in the Agalwatta and Palindanuwara Divisional Secretariats in the Kalutara Districts have been declared ‘isolated’ zones until further notice. The NOCPCO said the move was aimed at preventing the spread of the novel coronavirus.
No explanation for the district-wide extended curfew in Gamapaha was give,, although the Peliyagoda fish market where a new cluster appeared to be emerging on Wednesday, is in the Gampaha district.
The Government Department of Information in its 9:55 p.m. update on COVID-19 cases said 166 had tested positive for the virus, taking Sri Lanka’s tally to 5,977, and the Minuwangoda cluster to 2,508. Of Wednesday’s confirmations, 38 are staff of the Brandix Minuwangoda plant, 79 are those associated with the staff, while 49 are from the fish market. It’s not clear how the fish vendors contracted the virus, but NOCPCO officials said it was probing the matter. Officials also said the fish market has been temporarily closed following the detection.
The Peliyagoda fish market is a mini hub where a large number of wholesalers and vendors from all parts of the Western Province, gather on a daily bases. Health authorities acknowledged that an outbreak in the market could lead to a wider spread if adequate preventive measures are not taken immediately.
-ENCL