16 more detected following Rapid Antigen tests Tests at 11 exit points will be carried out till Jan. 5

By Darshana Sanjeewa Balasuriya

Sixteen more COVID-19 cases have been detected following 940 Rapid Antigen Tests carried out on those leaving the Western Province yesterday, Police Spokesman DIG Ajith Rohana said.

He said 195 close contacts of the positive cases have also been sent 
for quarantine.

DIG Rohana said since December 18, a total of 90 persons have been found infected with COVID-19 through 11,926 Rapid Antigen tests carried out at 11 exit points on those leaving the Western Province.

He said 572 close contacts of those infected had been directed to undergo quarantine process, while the infected were sent to treatment centres.

DIG Rohana said the random tests would be conducted till January 5, 2021 to avoid the emergence of new COVID-19 sub clusters.

Meanwhile, 83 employees of ORIT apparel factory in Avissawella tested positive for COVID-19.
A total number of 639 COVID-19 cases have been reported in the country on Wednesday alone, out of which, 133 of them were from the Colombo District, 190 from Gampaha, 89 from Kandy and 50 from the Kalutara District.
In addition, 42 cases in the Ampara District and 21 from Jaffna were 
also reported.