COVID-19 patients 283 more reported from Kandakadu

Health Minister assures virus not spreading to community from centre   

Army Commander rejects false reports of areas under lock-down   

By Sheain Fernandopulle  

Nearly 283 more COVID-19-infected patients were reported from the Drug Rehabilitation Centre at Kandakadu yesterday increasing total number of cases at the Centre to 340, the Health Ministry announced yesterday.

Fifty six patients were reported from the Centre on Thursday while a woman attached to the centre as a counsellor also tested positive to the virus at the Marawila Hospital.   

Health Services Director General (DGHS), Dr. Anil Jasinghe said the number of COVID-19 patients reported from the Drug Treatment and Rehabilitation Centre could increase when PCR test results were out.  
With the 286 new cases detected yesterday the number of COVID-19 patients in the country has increased to 2,437 and among the 286, two are returnees from abroad and one a navy cadre.   

The quarantine centre in Kandakadu was converted into a hospital to treat the COVID-19 infected patients from the Kandakadu Drug Treatment and Rehabilitation Centre.  

Meanwhile, Army Commander Shavendra Silva said all those at the Kandakadu Treatment and Rehabilitation Centre currently on leave had been recalled.   

“Most of them have returned and the rest will be rounded up soon and sent to the Katukeliyawa quarantine centre,” he said and rejected the false reports that several areas were subjected to a lock-down and urged the people not to be misled by the false news and only rely on the news disseminated by the government.   

Meanwhile, Health Minister Pavithra Wanniarachchi assured that the health authorities were taking all measures to prevent the virus from the Rehabilitation Centre infecting the community. 

• Health Services Director General (DGHS), Dr. Anil Jasinghe said the  number of COVID-19 patients reported from the Drug Treatment and  Rehabilitation Centre could increase when PCR test results were out

patient found in Marawila

Her Father tests negative 

By Sheain Fernandopulle  

The father of the COVID-19 patient found at the Marawila Hospital has tested negative to the virus, the Puttalam District Regional Director of Health Services Dr. Dinusha Fernando said. 

A female counsellor, a resident of Nattandiya, attached to the Treatment and Rehabilitation Centre tested positive to the virus on Thursday and it led to her close associates being subjected to PCR tests.   

However, since there was an issue with the PCR test report of her mother, she was again subjected to another PCR test.  It was found on Thursday that the woman, who tested positive to the virus, had gone to a tailoring shop and a house and the people there were also subjected to PCR tests.

Those results are yet to come.   At least, 45 people from 10 families, who have maintained links with the woman, have been asked to undergo a period of self-quarantine.