Colombo quarantine curfews extended as another 368 test positive for COVID-19
Staff from Colombo Hilton, Shangri La and sub-inspector attached to Parliament Police Intelligence unit among those testing positive
COLOMBO – The government on Saturday (24) extended the coronavirus curfew imposed in the Gampaha district to several areas in Colombo, as 368 individuals tested positive for COVID-19, taking Sri Lanka’s tally to 7,521
The National Operation Centre for Prevention of COVID-19 Outbreak (NOCPCO), late Saturday evening announced indefinite quarantine curfew had been imposed in Maligawatta, Keselwatta, Dam Street, Barber Street, and Foreshore Police areas with immediate effect.
Gothatuwa and Mulleriyawa Police Jurisdiction areas were placed under indefinite curfew effective 7:00 p.m. Saturday.
On Friday (23), authorities imposed quarantine curfew in the Maradana and Dematagoda areas, also until further notice, while several villages in the Kalutara district were placed on isolation.
Meanwhile, two five star hotels, Colombo Hilton and Shangri La, said a staff member each had been confirmed as COVID-19 positive, but assured protective measures are being taken to safeguard the guests and staff.
Colombo Hilton said the staff member has been admitted to hospital and rooms and public areas of the hotel had been sanitized, while Shangri La said they were noticed on Friday that a staff member was positive. However, the hotel added the infected staffer did not directly deal with guests and his contacts are being traced.
The Galle Face Hotel meanwhile, acknowledging that a few of its staff had visited the Peliyagoda fish market, said the management has, acting in strict conformity with the guidelines issued by the authorities, taken immediate measures to subject the staff to PCR tests. It also said the concerned staff are undergoing self- quarantine at their residences pending the release of test results.
A sub inspector attached to the Parliament Police Intelligence unit had also tested positive for COVID-19. The office is reported to have visited the Peliyagoda fish market.
Sergeant-at-Arms of the Parliament, Narendra Fernando, confirmed the COVID-19 case, and said seven persons who had close contacts with the officer are under self quarantine and will be subjected to PCR tests.
Of the cases confirmed as COVID-19 positive on Saturday, 307 are associated with the Peliyagoda fish market, 24 are from fishery harbours and 37 from quarantine centres.
In another development, authorities said they were investigation the death of a person while waiting to take a PCR at the Kalpitiya hospital. The 32-year-old who was a resident of Kalpitiya had worked on a truck which transported fish from Kalpitiya to the fish market in Peliyagoda.
Meanwhile, the District Base Hospital in Rikillagaskade in the Central Province was closed after a doctor, who is resident in Kelaniya, was confirmed as COVID0-19 positive. He is reported to have visited the Peliyagoda fish market, before reporting to work at the hospital.
In another development, the weekly fair in Nugegoda was temporarily closed for the public on Saturday, after two fish vendors at the marketplace were confirmed as COVID-19 positive. Dr. Manoj Rodrigo, the Chief Medical Officer of Health at the Kotte Municipal Council the marketplace was disinfected following the confirmation.
Several fish and weekly markets in several towns across the country have also been closed after COVID-19 cases were detected among the vendors, and Valaichchenai police area was declared an isolated area late Saturday night.
-ENCL