First contacts of COVID-19 patients to be home quarantined

• When we place them under home quarantine, we expect them to stick to their homes without venturing out

By Kelum Bandara   

The first contacts of COVID-19 patients will be subjected to home quarantine measures instead of being taken to quarantine centres established elsewhere, Army Commander Lt. Gen. Shavendra Silva said.  

According to a video clip released to the media, he said the decision was taken following instructions by President Gotabaya Rajapaksa.   

“When we place them under home quarantine, we expect them to stick to their homes without venturing out,” he said.   

He said 348 patients were reported on Sunday and a bulk of them were from those linked to the Peliyagoda Fish market.  

Asserting that the quarantine curfew imposed in some areas would continue, he said any relaxation would be considered, upon the drop in the number of cases reported from a given locality. 

• Quarantine curfew imposed in some areas would continue, and any relaxation would be considered, upon the drop in the number of cases reported