30 More Sailors Confirmed Positive -Head of NOCPCO

The routine Media interaction at the National Operation Centre for Prevention of COVID-19 Outbreak (NOCPCO) at Rajagiriya took place this afternoon (24), headed by Hon Minister of Health Mrs Pavithra Wanniaracchchi, Head of the (NOCPCO), Chief of Defence Staff and Commander of the Army Lieutenant General Shavendra Silva, Director General of Health Services, Dr Anil Jasinghe and Attorney-at Law Ajith Rohana, Deputy Inspector General of Police.

"A total of 10 quarantined individuals from the Army-managed Punani Quarantine Centre (QC) after conduct of PCR tests left for their residences this morning (24) with Quarantine Certificates. With this, a total of 4376 quarantined individuals have so far left those QCs, manned by tri services as of today (24). As of now, 2869 persons are still in quarantine in 29 island-wide QCs, run by tri services. ” so said Lieutenant General Shavendra Silva

All 76 Sri Lankan students including an officer studying in Nepal were brought down to Sri Lanka today (23) from Kathmandu by Flight UL-1425 and were taken to the Quarantine Centre (QC) for quarantine process.

Welisara Navy Camp-based 30 sailors, including the COVID-19 positive one detected from Polonnaruwa while on leave were confirmed infected after PCR tests prompting the isolation of the camp and steps were taken to conduct PCR tests on all his associates. Similarly, more and more PCR tests were done during past few hours and found 30 more sailors were positive to the virus as of today, increasing the total to 60 victims.

Accordingly, measures have been adopted to conduct more and more PCR tests and quarantine all those who joined Suduwella operations, those inside the camp as well as those who had gone on leave in accordance with health guidelines and procedures. More and more PCR tests are still in progress after isolation of the premises as of this evening. All family members of those patients have now been housed in an improvised quarantine centre of the Navy by the Navy Commander.

Since all sailors who were on leave have now been brought down for quarantining from respective villages, people in those areas need not entertain any irrational phobia or panicking," Lieutenant General Silva added.

Source: www.army.lk