PHI Union claims parties held at hotels-turned-quarantine centres triggered second wave
COLOMBO – Two hotels that were converted to quarantine centres for Ukranian and SriLankan aircrews are accused of breaking the law and allowing parties and gatherings for locals in the hotel premises during the quarantine period, triggering the second and more virulent wave of the novel coronavirus.
President of the Public Health Inspectors’ Union (PHI), Upul Rohana claimed on Monday (9), the Union was in possession of “enough evidence” to prove that parties held at the hotel where the Ukranian crewmembers were quarantined were responsible for the second wave of COVID-19 that has seen cases appearing literally in every corner of the country.
Rohana told the privately owned television network on Monday, though guidelines were issued to the hotels in question regarding the quarantine procedure for foreign and local aircrew, they had ignored them, secretly allowing locals to organize parties within the hotels’ premises. He called on the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) and other authorities to investigate the matter.
Media reports last month said Intelligence Service had traced the source of the Minuwangoda cluster to crew members of an Ukrainian fhad arrived from Turkey on September 11. One of the crew members had been diagnosed as COVID-19 positive leading to the hotel coming under lockdown.
Army Commander Lt. Gen .Shavendra Silva acknowledged the hotel management had failed to follow the health guidelines at the time the Ukrainian national was quarantined at the hotel.
Reports said several hotel employees had been allowed to travel back and forth from home to work despite the hotel being under lockdown. Silva said there was strong suspicion the hotel could be the main source behind the Minuwangoda cluster, as no cases were detected in the country during the few months prior to the arrival of the crew.
-economynext.com/ENCL