1455 remain in quarantine across 12 quarantine facilities

Colombo (News 1st) ; 86 people were moved to the quarantine facility in Katukeliyawa, operated by the Sri Lanka Army, on Thursday night. Army Commander Lieutenant General Shavendra Silva speaking at the National Operations Centre for Preventing COVID-19 said 59 of them were from Puttlam and they were taken away for violating the quarantine laws and health advice. The other 27 people were from Chilaw and they were moved to quarantine for having close contact with two previously reported COVID-19 cases. In addition 10 relatives of a COVID-19 patient, all from Wellampitiya and Kurunegala, were moved to the Punani quarantine facility on Thursday night. Further, 19 people from Akkaraipattu were also moved to immediate quarantine at the facility in Damminna for having close contact with a COVID-19 patient. In addition, 04 people from Badulla who returned from a pilgrimage from Indonesia were moved to the Kahagolla quarantine facility for an additional quarantine period. They were in fact moved to quarantine on the 08th of March, in the first instance, upon arrival. Further, 08 people from Matale were also moved to the Kahagolla quarantine facility on Thursday night, as it was suspected they had contact with several COVID-19 patients. A total 1455 people are placed in 12 quarantine facilities operated by the Three Armed Forces. The Army Commander went on to say, the 23 people arrested by Naval Intelligence for failing to self quarantine in Ja-Ela,after they had contact with a COVID-19 patient, were escorted to the Oluvil quarantine facility, operated by Sri Lanka Navy.