Three areas under complete lockdown

COLOMBO (News 1st): A Grama Seva Division near the Puttalam Town, Kandy, and the Akurana towns were placed under total lockdown today (March 29). This was done as several people in these areas were tested positive for COVID-19. The first confirmed case of COVID-19 in the Central Province was reported in Thelambugahawatta, Akurana, Kandy yesterday (March 28). 370 families in this area have been placed under self-quarantine in their residences. Governor of the Central Province, Attorney Lalith U. Gamage speaking about the situation said:

"The Police and the Army have intervened and have deployed personnel across the village. Therefore the people in these villages are now not allowed to move out of their houses or move about in the village. They have been confined to their houses. We ordered all public health inspectors to monitor the health status of all the villagers."

Meanwhile the Director of Health Services for the Central Province, Dr Arjuna Thilakerathne said:

"The patient who is a businessman had arrived in the country from India. He had displayed symptoms of the viral infection within two days of landing in Sri Lanka. He had concealed this from the health authorities and the police and sought treatment from a private hospital. We only discovered that he was infected with the virus 14 days later. When we examined the members of his family out of the 4, 3 of them were displaying symptoms of the viral infection. We sent all three of them to the Kandy General Hospital. Under the current situation, we believe that all three of them may test positive for COVID-19. The first patient here had travelled to many places during the past few days. He had travelled to the Akurana Town and many other locations. Although we still haven't figured out how many people he had contact with, we suspect that he has had contact with a considerable amount of people. We have identified some of the people who might have had contact with him and that is why we had to quarantine the general area of Akurana."

Senior Deputy Inspector General of Police for the Central Province Roshan Fernando said that although the Kandy-Jaffna Road will remain open even in Akurana, travellers will not be allowed to leave their vehicles in that area. Meanwhile, Former State Minister, Mahindananda Aluthgamage speaking about this situation said;

"With the identification of this patient, we had to make certain decisions for the Kandy District in the Central Province. We were hoping to lift the curfew in the district tomorrow, but under the present situation, we had to extend the curfew. This is has been locked down. The Police instructed the divisional secretary of Akurana to provide essential items to the doorsteps of the residents of the area."

Meanwhile, the Kadumayankulam Grama Seva Division in the Puttlam Town has been placed under total lockdown. This step was taken after a person in the area was tested positive for the virus. People have been barred for entering or leaving the area. A group of between 40 to 50 people from 11 families from Kadumayankulam were taken to the quarantine centre set up at the Zahira Vidyalaya in Puttlam. The family members of the infected patient, 4 families of close relatives, and 6 families who travelled with him will be quarantined at this centre. Public Health Inspector of Puttalam, I. Sabar stated:

"One person has tested positive for COVID-19 in the Puttalam District. I would like to request the resident of Puttalam not to leave their homes under any circumstance. We are taking steps to lockdown one Grama Seva division. If the public in this area does not adhere to the guidelines issued by the police, army and health authorities, this entire town would have to be placed under lockdown."

Meanwhile, 20,700 people from 7 Grama Seva divisions in Atalugama, Horana were directed to self-quarantine themselves in their homes yesterday. This was done after 3 members of the same family in the area were tested positive for COVID-19. According to our correspondent, a program has been put in place to cater to the medical needs of the people in the area. A special quarantine procedure has also been set-up. Our correspondent added that essential food items are being distributed among the public through the Grama Niladhari.