A total of 1,741 persons are still in quarantine in 40 island-wide facilities and one more group of 155 are scheduled to leave quarantine centres tomorrow (04), says the Commander of Army.

He mentioned this during the routine media interaction at the National Operation Centre for Prevention of COVID-19 Outbreak (NOCPCO) at Rajagiriya this afternoon (03).

A total of 288 quarantined returnees from Diyatalawa, Rantembe, Kundasale, Bogoda, Periyakadu and Thanthirimale quarantine centres left for their residences this morning (03) after receipt of Quarantine Certificates. With this, a total of 2598 quarantined individuals have so far left the quarantine centres manned by tri-forces, Lieutenant General Shavendra Silva added.

“Likewise, a total of 314 individuals, identified to have been in contact with the third COVID-19 victim who lived at Imamul Aroos Mawatha, Samapura flats, Maradana were taken to Punani quarantine centre by the Army on Thursday evening (02). Twelve of those individuals were from Wellampitiya,” he said.

A medical team of 24 persons, including doctors and nursing staff who treated the COVID-19 victim at Colombo South Hospital, were earlier housed at Maharagama Teachers’ Training College in quarantine for 14 days, but they were later accommodated in Dolphin Hotel, Waikkal with more facilities where the team of 25 more Negombo Medical personnel, including doctors, are in quarantine, raising the total in quarantine to 49 at Waikkal Hotel, the Army Chief said further.

“To facilitate the pensioners who are senior citizens of this country to draw their pensions, the Army during past two days, including today (3) provided transport services to take them to their banks from their homes,” Lieutenant General Silva told the Media.