Fisherman who associated with COVID-19 patient brought ashore

• the fisherman was attempting to return ashore in Trincomalee secretly, after venturing to sea for fishing

By Darshana Sanjeewa Balasuriya 

 
The Sri Lanka Navy yesterday brought ashore a fisherman who had closely associated with a person infected with the coronavirus and had gone for fishing activities. 

Navy said after being notified by the Trincomalee Police, of a person who needs to be quarantined as he had closely associated with person infected with the coronavirus.   

They said the fisherman was attempting to return ashore in Trincomalee secretly, after venturing to sea for fishing.   A group of naval personnel attached to the Eastern Naval Command commenced an operation in search of the suspicious person and the craft he was aboard. 

 
Subsequently, the Navy managed to locate the person and the craft along with two more suspicious fishing vessels and 10 persons aboard those vessels.   

Navy said they escorted all these three vessels ashore by early yesterday morning.   

Subsequently, naval medics in accordance with all protective guidelines, checked if the persons had initial symptoms and their vessels were too disinfected by the Chemical, Biological, Radiological and Nuclear (CBRN) Unit of the Navy.   

Thereupon, all the returnees were sent to the quarantine centre at Sri Lanka Navy Marine establishment in Sampur for quarantine practices, the Navy said.