Twenty seven (27) healthcare staffers of Ragama and Welisara Hospitals sent to Navy Quarantine Centre in Mulankavil

Twenty two (22) members of healthcare staff of Colombo North Teaching Hospital in Ragama and another five (05) healthcare staffers of the National Hospital for Respiratory Diseases in Welisara were sent to the Naval Quarantine Centre in Mulankavil, Mannar today (12^th April 2020). The early action had to be taken as a staff member of the Ragama Teaching Hospital contracted the novel coronavirus, after having a close contact with an infected person who was earlier found form the village of Suduwella in Ja-Ela.

The Navy on 09^th April 2020 conducted an intelligence operation to apprehend 28 persons who were avoiding quarantine orders remaining in the village of Suduwella, Ja-Ela. Subsequently, this group of persons were sent to the SLN quarantine centre at Oluvil for proper quarantine process and 06 of them were tested positive for novel coronavirus.

Subsequent investigations into the affiliation revealed that a healthcare staffer of the Colombo North Teaching Hospital in Ragama had contracted the virus for his close association with one of the COVID-19 patient from Suduwella. As a result of further investigation it was able to detect another 22 staff members from the Ragama Hospital and another 05 from the National Hospital for Respiratory Diseases who had links with the aforesaid staffer of Ragama Hospital. This group of persons include 22 males and 05 females.

In view of health concerns and safety of healthcare staff both hospitals, this group was sent to the Naval Quarantine Center at Mulankavil in Mannar today, after a preliminary health check-up.