Sri Lanka locked down 2 towns after detection of new COVID 19 case amid Brandix employee covid-19 positive

Police curfew has been imposed with immediate effect in Divulapitiya and Minuwangoda Police Divisions. The curfew will be in effect until further notice, said Commander of Sri Lanka Army Lieutenant General Shavendra Silva.

The curfew has been imposed with the detection of a new COVID-19 case from the Divulapitiya, Minuwagoda area.

A 39-year-old woman employed at an apparel factory in the area has tested positive for the virus and had been admitted to the Gampaha Hospital before being transferred to the Infectious Diseases Hospital (IDH) in Angoda.

Nearly 400 individuals have been identified as associates of the apparel factory employee from Divulapitiya, Minuwangoda, who was identified to be a COVID-19 patient, states health sectors.

A group of employees of the apparel factory in Minuwangoda of which the COVID-19 patient is employed at has been identified to be associates in this manner, stated the Minuwangoda Administrative Public Health Inspector R. D. A. Randeniya. They will be subjected to PCR testing, Randeniya added.

Meanwhile Brandix, a leading apparel manufacturer said today they would continue to practice stringent measures in consultation with the health authorities after one of its employees tested positive with COVID-19. Brandix has been ranked Sri Lanka's most valuable export brand for number of years.

It said in a statement that the Brandix has detected that an apparel worker in its manufacturing facility in Minuwangoda is COVID-19 positive.

“The rigorous protocol implemented across Brandix, and the immediate response and support received from the PHI and relevant health authorities of Sri Lanka, enabled the early detection of the patient, ensuring her timely transfer to IDH for immediate treatment and mitigation of any further spread of the virus,” the statement said.

“We continue to assist the relevant authorities, seeking their counsel and extending our utmost co-operation throughout the process. All necessary measures to ensure complete containment of the virus have been implemented with immediate effect, including the rigorous disinfection of the affected work site. The 40 other workers of the facility that had come into contact with the patient have been quarantined immediately along with their families and will undergo PCR testing for further measure,

“We are grateful to the relevant authorities for their speedy response and the continued support extended during this time. We will continue to practice our stringent measures in consultation with the health authorities, keeping the safety and well-being of our employees and their communities as our utmost priority,” it added.

According to officials, this is likely the first COVID-19 community case detected since April. Recent infections have come from foreign returnees.

The Sri Lankan government on June 28 completely lifted the curfew imposed to contain the spread of the coronavirus after no new case of community infection was recorded for nearly two months.

However, international flights are yet to be resumed.

The island nation was under a continuous lockdown since March 20. Initially, a nationwide blanket curfew was imposed but it was later eased for about two-thirds of the country and was mostly confined to nighttime. The government had ordered partial opening of offices and businesses mid-May. From early June, the restrictions were further relaxed with public transport being allowed.

The government further relaxed the COVID-19 curfew, which was in force from 11 pm to 4 am, to only four hours from midnight to 4 am daily from June 14 onwards. PTI CORR SCY SCY SCY