Failing to maintain premises as per health guidelines 686 State, private institutions in WP to face legal action

• A total of 3,448 state or private premises were observed adhering to the health guidelines issued in the Gazette notification

By Darshana Sanjeewa Balasuriya   

The authorities are to institute legal action against administration officers or the persons- in- charge of 686 private and state institutions in the Western Province for not maintaining their premises in accordance with health guidelines and bio-security protocols issued to prevent the COVID-19 spread.   

Police Spokesman DIG Ajith Rohana said Police and health authorities had inspected a total number of 4,134 private and state institutions or factories in the Western Province as of yesterday since January 12, to monitor whether those premises were being maintained as per the health guidelines.   

He said the authorities had inspected more than 1,000 premises on Monday alone.   

The DIG said following the inspection of those places since January12, a total of 3,448 state or private premises were observed operating adhering to the health guidelines issued in the 
Gazette notification.   

However, 686 premises were found violating the guidelines, such as not checking body temperature when a person entered the premises and did not have hand- washing facilities at the entrance,” he said.   

The spokesman said that legal actions were being taken against the administration of those institutions.   

Meanwhile, DIG Rohana said a total of 103 persons who were leaving the Western Province had been tested positive of Covid-19 in random Rapid Antigen Tests carried out during special operations carried out since December 21, 2020.   

He said the random rapid antigen tests were conducted at 11 exit points of the Western Province and that a total of 10,926 individuals had been subjected to rapid antigen tests.   
In addition, 2,807 people, who were arrested for not wearing face masks in public since January 5 were also tested for the virus with Antigen tests or PCR tests and 50 of them were identified as Covid-19 infected.   

Also, antigen tests were conducted at fish stalls, weekly fairs and on street vendors from time to time and that a total of six persons were identified as Covid-19 infected through nearly 2,000 tests.   

The spokesman said that 18 Covid-19 persons were also identified through 385 random rapid antigen tests carried out at Colombo Fort and Galle Face Green.   
Accordingly, a total number of 18,140 persons have been tested for Rapid Antigen or PCR tests since December 21, 2020 and 203 persons have been identified as Covid positive patients. 

 
BLURB_ 2,807 people, who were arrested for not wearing face masks in public since January 5 were also tested for the virus with Antigen tests or PCR tests and 50 of them were identified as Covid-19 infected. 

STRAP-More than 200 Covid-19 positive cases identified through 18,000 random tests 
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 *686 premises were found violating the guidelines, such as not checking body temperature when a person entered the premises and did not have hand- washing facilities at the entrance,