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Wednesday, 17 June 2020 01:54 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}
Welisara Navy Station
Defence Secretary Maj. Gen. (Retd) Kamal Gunaratne said that he was confident that Health Authorities will clear the Welisara Navy Station to be removed from ‘isolation’ in the coming weeks.
Gunaratne commented on the issue at a press briefing held at the Ministry of Defence yesterday. He stated that the Government had anticipated the COVID-19 outbreak and had established a Task Force on 27 January, 40 days before the first local case was detected. Gunaratne credited the management of the pandemic to proactive planning.
“We have assigned the task to the Epidemiology Unit of the Health Department; they have full access to the Welisara camp and they will determine when the camp will be delisted,” he said, pointing out that as the Navy cluster declines, the camp may be delisted in the coming weeks.
Commenting on the Welisara Navy cluster, Gunaratne said that the spread inside the Navy can be controlled due to the prompt action taken when the first sailor was diagnosed in April. He admitted recalling all service personnel who were on leave was challenging and accommodating them saw some hardships which had to be endured, but said the military was ready to make such sacrifices to ensure the virus does not spread.
All sailors who were at Welisara Navy Station have been subjected to PCR tests and those with negative results moved to quarantine camps as a precautionary measure, he said.
“We remind you that no COVID-19 patient had been detected from the community since 30 April,” he stressed, pointing out that it was vital to maintain the status quo with no community transmission while the Navy cluster declines. He said that strict procedure was put in place to screen all arrivals to the island at ports and airports.
Commenting on the issue of a US diplomat entering the country via the airport without being subjected to a PCR test, NOCPC head and Army Commander Lt. Gen. Shavendra Silva clarified that the diplomat did entered the country following the procedure in place on that day, pointing out that PCR testing at the airport was scheduled to begin the next day. The diplomat in question had complied with the issued procedure and moved in to 14 days of quarantine at the diplomatic facility.
