Authorities double down on counter measures 

COVID-19 count from latest cluster jumps to 80 

By Norman Palihawadane

Army Commander and Head of the National Operation Centre for the Prevention of COVID-19 Outbreak (NOCPCO) Lt. Gen. Shavendra Silva, yesterday, requested people to adhere to maximum precautions as the new cluster of COVID-19 has a dangerous potential of spreading out of the Gampaha District to other areas.

He said there was, however, no need to horde items unnecessarily, although a police curfew was imposed in several areas, following the detection of a COVID-19 patient in the community on Saturday.

The people needed to avoid unnecessary travel and follow health safety instructions religiously, he said.

Lt. Gen. Silva said that the curfew had been extended to three police areas due to the large number of employees in the garment factory, where the infected woman worked as a supervisor.

As at yesterday the number of COVID-19 positive cases found from the latest cluster had increased up to 69.

The curfew imposed in Veyangoda, Divulapitiya and Minuwangoda police areas continues to be in effect.

The Army Commander said the family of the COVID-19 positive individual in Divulapitiya had been directed to undergo quarantine together with other families she had interacted with and the employees and the supervisor of the garment factory had been advised to undergo self-quarantine.

It has not yet been ascertained how a woman living in the Divulapitiya area in Gampaha became infected with COVID-19. Lt. General Silva said they were still inquiring into how the individual contracted the coronavirus and vowed to trace the root cause of the outbreak within the coming days.

Director General of the Government Information Department Nalaka Kaluwewa said that the health sector was seeking the assistance of the general public to prevent the spread of the Covid-19 pandemic.

He said that the health sector emphasised that the guidelines issued by the Ministry of Health covering all sectors should be strictly followed.

The guidelines included instructions covering 56 sectors on how to continue public and professional activities, while preventing the spread of the Covid-19 outbreak.

He noted that the health sector further emphasised that the public and the respective professionals should follow those guidelines at all times.

The health sector would closely monitor whether the recommendations were being followed properly, he said.