Investigations are underway to identity how the patient from Pilyandala who tested positive for COVID-19 on Monday had contracted the virus as his brother who had recently returned from Australia had tested negative and he had no immediate recent history of associating with positive patients, the Daily Mirror learns.

Government officials said that although initially they suspected he maybe an isolated case, further investigations are being conducted to determine if he may have contracted the virus from his brother who may have healed without showing any symptoms.

The patient is a fish vendor from Piliyandala which led the Fish Traders Union closing the Peliyagoda fish market for three days from today as it was reported that the patient had visited the fish market.

Further, 81 people who associated with the patient were moved into quarantine yesterday and testing them had begun. The patient's family and neighbors were also taken to quarantine centers. (JAMILA HUSAIN)