Sri Lankan port workers who boarded MT Clarity, quarantined

COLOMBO (News 1st): Several Sri Lankan officers who had brief contacts with the 17 crew members who tested positive for COVID-19, aboard the Indian oil tanker MT Clarity have been directed into quarantine, authorities said. Chief Epidemiologist - Dr. Sudath Samaraweera on Sunday (Sept. 27) confirmed that the entire crew aboard the Indian oil tanker were confirmed positive for COVID-19 while it was anchored at the Trincomalee port. "The oil tanker had docked at the Colombo Port a few days ago. Some workers at the port had entered the vessel to carry out some tests. The vessel had then left for Trincomalee. Initial PCR tests showed that 17 crew members had contracted COVID-19. There are few Sri Lankans who entered the vessel. We ordered them to undergo quarantine immediately," Army Commander - Lieutenant General Shavendra Silva, Head of the National Operation Centre for Prevention of COVID-19 Outbreak (NOCPCO) said. Further commenting on the matter, Army Commander Lt. Shavendra Silva said, "One of them had come into contact with their family. He had made contact with about 5 people including a doctor, and 2 pilots. All of these individuals are undergoing quarantine at present." The oil tanker MT Clarity transporting 4000 metric tonnes, had been travelling towards India's port of Cochin when it anchored in Sri Lankan waters.