• Around 1,700 workers were employed in this factory

By Romesh Madusanka – Wanni 

Twenty-one COVID-19 patients were identified from a private apparel factory in Thekkawatta, Vavuniya on Jaffna – Kandy A9 Road yesterday and as a result a risk of a COVID-19 cluster has emerged, the health authorities said. 

Vavuniya Public Health Inspector’s office said around 1,700 workers were employed in this factory, and they include residents within Vavuniya as well as outside. Investigations have detected the way they had contracted the virus. 

Public Health Inspectors also said that said workers had tested positive in PCR tests conducted on them after they had been hospitalised.   The PHI office also said that the COVID-19 patients are receiving treatments in hospitals and the identified close associates had been quarantined and directed for PCR tests. 

• Investigations have detected the way they had contracted the virus