COLOMBO (News1st): A group of Indians employed by a private firm to transport coal from ships to the Norocholai coal jetty have been quarantined upon reaching land, health officials said.

“We have quarantined 31 people in Norochcholai,” Dr Damsiri Madumal Silva, the Acting Chief Medical Officer attached to the health office at the Norochcholai Port told News1st.

He explained that these workers had been engaged in transporting coal from ships to the jetty over the last few months.

“No COVID-19 cases were reported on the ships from which they had unloaded coal. We are taking this as a precautionary measure until they can leave the country,” Dr Silva said.

The medical officer noted that 75 other Indians who were also engaged in these operations, but not at sea, will be closely monitored in the coming days.

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