The Sea Marshal from Jinthupitiya, who had tested positive for Covid-19 on July 02, has once again tested negative for the virus in five PCR tests.

The Department of Government Information stated that 154 of his close associates were also subjected PCR tests as a precaution and that all of them had tested negative for the virus as well.

Therefore the Sea Marshal from Jinthupitiya has been discharged from hospital while the 154 close associates of his who were quarantined at Kandakadu have also been sent back to their respective homes, the Director General of Health Services Dr Anil Jasinghe said.

The Sri Lankan sea marshal who returned from India had tested positive for Covid-19 during his home quarantine period at Jintupitiya in Colombo 13 on July 02 and he was subsequently hospitalized.

The person, reported from Jinthupitiya, Colombo as a Covid-19 patient, was identified by the health authorities as a high-risk person as he was a sea guard in overseas. Hence, the health authorities were on alert, the Info. Department said.

PCR tests were performed during his home quarantine period accordingly and he was diagnosed as a Covid-19 patient in accordance with the test results. All the necessary measures were taken by the health sector and defense sector immediately. 

The patient was hospitalized as a Covid-19 Patient and approximately 154 persons those who were identified as his close associates were sent to Kandakadu Quarantine Centre.

However, the results of 5 PCR tests conducted at the hospital with respect to this person have continuously confirmed that he is not infected with Covid-19 virus, the release said.

However, as a safety measure, the 154 persons those who were sent to the Kandakadu Quarantine Center were also subjected to PCR tests and none of them have been identified as infected.

Accordingly, the person identified as infected with coronavirus has been discharged from the hospital and the 154 persons those who were in Kandakadu Quarantine Centre were also sent back home.