COVID-19 spread linked to 19 areas

Friday, 3 April 2020 15:07 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

COVID-19 has not spread among the public in Sri Lanka yet according to Police Spokesperson DIG Ajith Rohana, explaining that all COVID-19 cases identified in the country thus far can be linked to 19 areas, including 15 areas where the initial patients were identified from. These areas include Mattegoda, Marawila, Nugegoda, Beruwala, Dehiwala, Colombo 8, Kuliyapitiya, Wennappuwa, Ja-Ela, Ratmalana, Akurana, Nattandiya, Colombo 4, Atalugama, Bandaragama, Puttalam, Wellampitiya, and Jaffna.

Referring to the patients recently identified from Puttalam, DIG Ajith Rohana said they have come into direct contact with an individual who travelled to Indonesia and had tested positive for COVID-19. The individuals have been subject to the quarantine process and were being tested regularly. Those identified from Jaffna have also been subjected to the quarantine process, during which they tested positive.

According to the Epidemiology Unit, as of 10am today, there were 151 confirmed cases in the country- out of which 34 were from the quarantine centres, 25 were from Puttalam, and four were from Jaffna. While advising the public to remember those they come into contact with, especially if in the Western Province, Kandy, Puttalam, and Jaffna Districts, DIG Ajith Rohana asked the public to always provide accurate and true details to medical professionals.

He also assured the public that the State Intelligence Service have been directly involved in identifying and isolating patients as well as tracking those who have come into contact with the patients. This includes three groups; the first is the persons the patient came into contact with, second is the group that came into contact with the first group, and the third are those who came into contact with the second group.

In addition to the State Intelligence Services, the Sri Lanka Army, Sri Lanka Air Force, and Sri Lanka Navy are managing the quarantine measures, and the Sri Lanka Police is supporting self-quarantine measures. All State institutions are also contributing to the efforts to contain the spread of COVID-19 in the country.