The Ministry of Health has revealed that coronavirus patients linked to the Minuwangoda cluster have not been detected in the Colombo district thus far.
Chief Epidemiologist Dr. Sudatha Samaraweera said from outside the cluster, patients have been reported from the Jaffna, Monaragala, Matale, Kurunegala and Gampaha areas.
The Minuwangoda COVID-19 cluster emerged after several workers of an apparel factory in the area were detected with the virus.
Dr. Samaraweera said the female supervisor of the factory detected with the virus in Divulapiitya was not the first person to be detected, adding that a group of employees at the factory were suffering from respiratory ailments from 20th September and health authorities were informed in this regard.
“The female supervisor was admitted to the Gampaha hospital on 30th September. However, health authorities were informed of a group of employees suffering from respiratory ailments since 20th September. It had later escalated over the following days. Investigations have also confirmed that no individuals from overseas had visited the factory,” Dr. Samaraweera said.
He further said that the virus could have been transmitted in anyway and as a result the female supervisor cannot be considered the first infected patient from the Minuwangoda cluster.
“We believe there may have been infected patients prior to this detection, and investigations are underway in this regard. We can only trace the source of the virus in the coming days. We also may not be able to ascertain how the virus entered the factory,” Dr. Sudath samaraweera elaborated.
He added that there was no issue in containing the current outbreak, but the process would be easier knowing the source of transmission. (NewsWire)
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