• Other children and the staff were quarantined in the home
• 37 children and 31 employees including the matrons were antigen tested to find 43 of them infected

By: Lunugala Prasanna Pathmasiri 

The Bandarawela Sujatha Childrens Home was declared a quarantine centre and closed for visitors yesterday when 24 children under five years of age and 19 employees contracted COVID 19. 

Administrative PHI in the Bandarawela Urban Council  D.M.A.R Disanayake said 37 children and 31 employees including the matrons were antigen tested to find 43 of them infected. The PHI said about a month ago several children who recovered from the disease had relapsed and that it signaled the possibility of a new variant of the virus.

He said other children and the staff were quarantined in the children's home after declaring it a quarantine centre.