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A soldier checks a person in Minuwangoda as security officials stepped up surveillance with the discovery of two COVID-19 community cases yesterday. (Inset) Women on a scooter transporting rice in panic buying - Pix by Jayamal Chandrasiri
By Shailendree Wickrama Adittiya
THE Government was quick yesterday to react to the possibility of a rapid spread of COVID-19 following the identification of the first community case in two months by imposing curfew in select three areas, re-imposing health guidelines, and closing all schools in the country.
Curfew was imposed indefinitely in the Divulapitiya, Minuwangoda and Veyangoda Police Divisions yesterday after a 39-year-old resident of Divulapitiya employed in Minuwangoda tested positive in the Gampaha Hospital.
DGI Ajith Rohana said that all persons found violating the law with regard to curfew regulations could face fines and imprisonment, adding that essential services will operate in these areas. He requested the public to cooperate with the police and health officials, especially public health inspectors.
“Despite curfew applying to these two police divisions, persons in neighbouring areas and the rest of the country are requested to follow health guidelines, especially by washing hands, social distancing, and wearing masks,” he went on to add.
All Sri Lanka Army, Navy, Air Force, and Civil Security Department officers in the Minuwangoda and Divulapitiya areas have been told to not report for duty until informed. All officers in other parts of the Gampaha District are not to report to duty today and all those in camps must remain within the premises.
The Sri Lanka Ports Authority also asked all port workers from the two Police divisions to refrain from reporting to work until further notice.
In addition to this, Acting Director General of Health Services Dr. S. Sridaran yesterday evening asked all persons in the Gampaha District experiencing symptoms of fever to immediately subject themselves to a PCR test at the nearest hospital.
Health Minister Pavithra Wanniarachchi extended this to all persons in the island, saying any person experiencing COVID-19 symptoms should be immediately tested at the nearest hospital.
While all pre-schools and schools will remain closed until further notice, the Department of Government Information stated that Public Days to be held today at State institutions on Mondays will not be held this week. The public will be informed of when it will be held next.
The Department of Government Information also stated that the safety guidelines issued by the Health Ministry to control the spread of COVID-19 will be imposed once again, with individuals and organisations being expected to strictly adhere to them.
The guidelines cover 56 sectors and state how public and professional activities must be carried out during the pandemic. “The health sector further emphasises that the public and the respective professionals should follow these guidelines all the time. Furthermore, the health sector will closely monitor that the recommendations are being followed properly,” the statement read.
While emphasising the need to follow these guidelines, Health Minister Pavithra Wanniarachchi stated that yesterday’s patient from Divulapitiya was identified through random testing of samples from main hospitals.
“We were able to identify this patient because all main hospitals have been advised to collect 10 samples for PCR tests every day. So all main hospitals will collect at least ten samples of patients displaying symptoms,” she said, explaining this was one such sample that happened test positive for COVID-19.
“The individual’s sample was tested at three other places before we determined that she had the virus,” Wanniarachchi added.
According to Chief Epidemiologist Dr. Sudath Samaraweera, the individual experienced symptoms of fever, following which she visited a healthcare centre in the area on 28 September. She was admitted to the Gampaha Hospital on 30 September, where her sample was sent for PCR testing. When her test came back positive for COVID-19, she was transferred to the National Institute of Infectious Diseases (NIID) for further treatment.
“The next step in such a situation is to identify her contacts,” Dr Samaraweera said, explaining that this included family, co-workers, and others she has come into contact with. All contacts have been directed for quarantine and will be subjected to PCR tests as required.
Explaining the measures taken thus far in terms of quarantining of contacts, Army Commander and National Operation Centre for the Prevention of COVID-19 Outbreak Head Lt. Gen. Shavendra Silva explained that family members, associating families, and co-workers have been directed to undergo quarantine.
The individual was a supervisor at a private garment factory in Minuwangoda and used the company’s shuttle service to travel to and from work. However, Silva added that a large number of her co-workers were staying at accommodation in the area, making it easier to control the possibility of community spread from them.
Those who came into contact with the individual over the past few days will be required to self-quarantine until they are directed to quarantine centres.
He added that investigations into the incident are still underway and requested the public to follow safety guidelines.
The Chief Epidemiologist shared similar views, saying that the public should mainly avoid interacting with society and stay at home as much as possible. They must maintain 1 m social distancing whenever they do interact with society, wear proper face masks, regularly wash hands with soap, and follow other safety guidelines
Dr. Samaraweera added that cooperation from all parties was vital to reduce community spread of the virus.
It was later reported that the patient’s 16-year-old daughter had also tested positive for COVID-19.
In addition to the two cases identified from Divulapitiya, three returnees from the United Arab Emirates, including one Navy personnel, also tested positive for COVID-19 yesterday, as did one other individual. The total number of confirmed cases has thus risen to 3,402, with 131 persons currently receiving treatment.
The active cases include 51 persons at the Welikanda Base Hospital and 33 at the NIID. Hospitals are also monitoring 42 persons suspected of having COVID-19.
The Epidemiology Unit also stated that three persons from the NIID and one person from the Welikanda Base Hospital were discharged yesterday having recovered from COVID-19, bringing the total number of recoveries to 3,258.
