Another Counsellor working at the Kandakadu Drug Rehabilitation centre was tested positive for Covid-19 yesterday (11). Army Commander and Head of the National Operation Centre for Prevention of Covid-19 Outbreak (NOCPCO), Lieutenant General Shavendra Silva said the Counsellor and two of his children, residents of Yaya five, Rajaganaya were tested positive for Covid-19. The children are 11 and one-year old, he said. The wife of the Counsellor was also subjected to a PCR test.
According to Silva, 150 persons who attended a funeral along with the Counsellor and another 80 who attended an alms-giving have been quarantined. Seventy children who attended classes at a school with one of the children have also been quarantined at their homes.
Almost 40 people from 10 houses in Marawila have also been quarantined after another Counsellor employed at the Kandakadu Drug Rehabilitation centre was tested positive for Covid-19 last week.
Health officials have raised concern over the spread of Covid-19 after it was revealed that several Counsellors working at the centre had travelled to various areas across the island. There have also been reports that two inmates of Kandakadu who had escaped were found in Wattala and was forced to undergo the PCR test.
Silva said there is no reason for alarm as all contacts of those who were tested positive were tracked down by the Security Forces. “All will be quarantined if the need arises,” he said.
Two hundred and fifty two Covid-19 positive cases were detected at the Kandakadu centre to date with the number of patients increaing to 2,454.
Sri Lanka last reported a Covid-19 positive patient from the community on April 30. Thereafter, Covid-19 cases were detected only in the Navy and among Sri Lankans arriving from abroad. However the latest cluster was found after an inmate from the Welikada Prison tested positive on July 7 after undergoing a PCR test.
The Government has also decided to halt repatriations from abroad temporarily.
The decision was taken after a large number of patients from the Kandakadu Drug Rehabilitation centre were detected and to ensure that facilities will be available to quarantine the Kandakadu inmates and their associates. Hence, all repatriations will be temporarily halted from July 14.