Individuals, who have left quarantine centres after completing a 14- day quarantine period due to the COVID- 19 outbreak, have been instructed to remain in self- isolation for another 2 weeks.
Commander of the Army Lieutenant General Shavendra Silva said that the instruction was issued as an individual who had completed 14- days at a quarantine centre had been identified as being infected with COVID- 19 yesterday.
The Army Commander, who heads the National Operations Centre for the Prevention of COVID-19, further said individual who was in self- isolation after leaving a quarantine centre had reportedly developed symptoms after 7 days.
Meanwhile, a group of 279 persons who were placed at the Jaffna and Kundasale quarantine centres, left for home today after completing their 14- day quarantine period.
Army Commander Lieutenant General Shavendra Silva said these individuals too have been instructed to remain in self- isolation for the next 2 weeks.
There was an increase in the number of individuals being infected with COVID-19 in the Atalugama area în Kalutara and Akurana in Kandy which have been declared as isolation areas by the Ministry of Health, the Army Commander pointed out.
He further said that 144 individuals who had maintained contact with an individual infected with COVID-19 in the Akurana area in Kandy were transported to the Punani quarantine centre this morning.
Another 44 persons who had associated with a patient infected with COVID-19 in the Pathpitiya area on Friday (03), were also transported to the Punani quarantine centre today, Commander Shavendra Silva said.
A group of 17, eight from Mathugama and 9 from Akuressa, who had acquainted with a COVID-19 patient in Karapitiya, have been placed at the Diyatalawa quarantine centre.
Furthermore, 23 persons, 6 from Pilyandela and 17 from Mahiyanganaya, who had associated with 2 COVID- 19 patients from Piliyandala and Akurana, have been placed at the Punani quarantine centre.
Commander of the Army Lieutenant General Shavendra Silva said 1312 individuals are currently placed in 40 quarantine centres operated by the Tri- Forces.