Forty-nine employees of a private-sector factory in Wattala have contracted the Covid-19, says Public Health Inspector in charge of Wattala division, Waruna Abeysekara.

According to him, more than 1,000 individuals are employed at the said factory, which is currently closed off due to the coronavirus exposure.

These positive cases were detected after conducting 120 PCR tests, he said further.

Meanwhile, 75 males who were tested positive for the virus within the Office of the Medical Officer of Health (MOH) in Wattala, have been hospitalized between last night and early this morning.

The virus-infected females in the area will be admitted to hospitals today, he added.

In addition, 24 fresh cases of Covid-19 have been reported from Horana area within the day. One of them is an employee of a major factory in the area, reports revealed.

Nearly 170 close contacts of these patients have been traced and referred to PCR tests. The factory in question has halted operations temporarily due to the prevailing situation.

Kalutara District has thus far registered 355 new coronavirus infections, says the Kalutara Regional Health Services Director Dr. Udaya Ratnayake.

In another development, it was revealed staff member of the Health Ministry has been exposed to the virus.

Speaking in this regard, Deputy Director General of Health Services said the employee in question had visited the Peliyagoda Fish Market.