Officials urge public to remain calm following identification of 1st Coronavirus patient in Sri Lanka

Colombo (News 1st) - The first confirmed case of Coronavirus in Sri Lanka was reported last night. Health officials confirmed that a 43-year-old Chinese woman from the Hubei province in China had contracted the virus. In the wake of this discovery, Rear Admiral Jayanath Colombage a member of the President's National Action Committee to prevent the spread of coronavirus in Sri Lanka urged the general public to remain calm. Colombage speaking to News1st noted that they had been preparing for such a situation adding that the fact that the patient was identified and directed to the Infectious Diseases Hospital was a sign of their preparation, especially by health officials who had been following WHO guidelines. He went onto state that they have taken special precautions in bringing down Sri Lankan students from China as well. With Sri Lankan students based in China beginning to make their way back to Sri Lanka from low-risk areas, Colombage noted that they would be subject to thorough medical checks and that they will also be given guidelines to follow. The students are to be instructed to limit exposure to large crowds, wear face masks, attend regular checkups and consult a doctor even if they get symptoms of a common cold. Colombage reiterated his call for members of the general public to remain calm, reminding the public that the IDH was built to contain and treat such diseases. The Rear Admiral also stated that they had reached out to the Chinese embassy in Colombo and had requested them not to facilitate the immediate return of Chinese workers employed in Sri Lankan projects, in a bid to curb the spread of the Coronavirus. He stated that the embassy had reacted positively to their request.