Thu, 28 Mar 2024 Today's Paper

Infected man had associated with more than 50 people: Minister

27 March 2020 06:28 pm - 54     - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

A A A

Health Minister Pavithradevi Wanniarachchi today expressed her utmost disappointment and anger when the Police and Health authorities detected a 67-year-old COVID 19 infected individual who had dodged quarantine for more than a week and suspected of having infected over 50 other Sri Lankans in the last few days.

The patient from the East has come back to Sri Lanka after a two week stay in India on March 18 and travelled to many parts of the country and associated with more than 50 other persons.

 

“After he realized that he had fever and breathing difficulties, he had gone to a famous private hospital in Colombo where he was diagnosed for viral infection. When he sought inbound treatment, the doctors and private hospital authorities refused and asked him to enter a government hospital. But he had not done so and until last Monday has travelled widely and associated with many people, probably infecting dozens of people,” Minister Wanniarachchi said.

The action of this man is unacceptable and highly irresponsible. He may have infected several dozens of people by now. It is sad and unfortunate if people behave like this ignoring the facilities provided by then government to protect the people from this viral infection and ignore the advice of health officials, the Police, the Army an the media, she stressed.

Minister Wanniarachchi said the man who has been admitted to the IDH - Angoda would be charged under the Criminal Procedure code and Quarantine and Prevention of Disease Ordinance.(Sandun A Jayasekera)

 

 


Order Gifts and Flowers to Sri Lanka. See Kapruka's top selling online shopping categories such as Toys, Grocery, Kids Toys, Birthday Cakes, Fruits, Chocolates, Clothing and Electronics. Also see Kapruka's unique online services such as Money Remittence,Astrology, Courier/Delivery, Medicine Delivery and over 700 top brands. Also get products from Amazon & Ebay via Kapruka Gloabal Shop into Sri Lanka

  Comments - 54

Order Gifts and Flowers to Sri Lanka. See Kapruka's top selling online shopping categories such as Toys, Grocery, Kids Toys, Birthday Cakes, Fruits, Chocolates, Clothing and Electronics. Also see Kapruka's unique online services such as Money Remittence,Astrology, Courier/Delivery, Medicine Delivery and over 700 top brands. Also get products from Amazon & Ebay via Kapruka Gloabal Shop into Sri Lanka
  • DillonDP Friday, 27 March 2020 06:44 PM

    Thats perfectly correct, I hope he survives and be punished at least with 6 months of community service

    Mrs. Damsari Mendis Friday, 27 March 2020 09:59 PM

    Country has to have a centralized system where any person coming to a private hospital and test prove positive for COVID 19, should be handed to police to be admitted to IDH. Its a simple thing.

    Suresh De silva Friday, 27 March 2020 06:44 PM

    Why don’t you have a centralized system anyone going to any hospital with potential symptoms that hospital should immediately informed health ministry / disaster team ?

    Dev Friday, 27 March 2020 06:45 PM

    Our people have this mental disorder of always wanting private hospitals. Do these idiots think that they will have to lie on the floor in government hospitals?

    xaber Friday, 27 March 2020 06:47 PM

    Teach him a good lesson for sheer negligence and putting others lives in danger. Hope this guy won't be our 'patient 31'

    Qed Friday, 27 March 2020 06:47 PM

    Does anyone think the issue is with the 225 or in all of us including the 225?

    Yeti Friday, 27 March 2020 06:49 PM

    Should put him inside his home and seal it off. He can't be called a human.

    SMR Friday, 27 March 2020 06:50 PM

    Why not charge the hospitals who failed to notify the authorities? Isnt that gross negligence itself!?

    Nihal Dharmatileke Friday, 27 March 2020 06:58 PM

    Do not treat this man, treat the fifty he had Associated with,he is criminal

    BE FAIR Friday, 27 March 2020 06:59 PM

    Show no mercy, when he is cured charge and impose a very stiff monetary penalty.

    Observer Friday, 27 March 2020 07:00 PM

    How did this man "dodge" quarantine when he returned from India ? Did the Airport Officials connive ?

    sam silva Friday, 27 March 2020 07:12 PM

    Why he didn't go through guarantee returning from India at the airport.

    Rajendran Friday, 27 March 2020 07:12 PM

    Definitely he needs treatment for mental sickness as well

    Clifford Perera Friday, 27 March 2020 07:13 PM

    He should be imprisoned for 6 months as per the provisions of the Quarantine Ordinance.

    rex Friday, 27 March 2020 07:25 PM

    Charge him behaved like idiot teach him lesson and his family too for allowing him go about Shame

    Huna Friday, 27 March 2020 07:26 PM

    Private hospital is also equal culprits , they should have immediately informed IDH about this patient

    Romeish De Mel Friday, 27 March 2020 07:31 PM

    The Government needs to make sure that after he is cured, the full arm of the law is brought down on him, and every body who hid him from being taken to hospital. How selfish can people be

    Shafeek Friday, 27 March 2020 07:39 PM

    Not only the man irresponsible but also the private hospital because they must informed to respective authority to take this man into quarantine without being merely released from private hospital. penalize this stupid private hospital

    S Gorakagoda Friday, 27 March 2020 07:41 PM

    He is an idiot. This is the normal behavior of many uneducated Sri Lankans. Must be given the highest punishment once he recovered. This should be a lesson for all idiots behave like this.

    A Friday, 27 March 2020 07:45 PM

    Minimum 5 years without bail

    Ramani J Friday, 27 March 2020 07:46 PM

    The hospital kowing he is infected should have locked him in a room and called the Army

    Sarooj basheer Friday, 27 March 2020 07:48 PM

    Pls let him die.

    Inshaff Ibrahim Friday, 27 March 2020 07:48 PM

    Charge him with the highest possible offence. We dont need people lie these in our country. Banish him to the boossa prison.

    Wijayananda Jayaweera Friday, 27 March 2020 07:56 PM

    Why the private hospitals have not been asked to contact the health authorities immediately in the instant of finding someone infected with Covid-19. It should be the responsibility of the private hosp[ital to hand over the patient to health authorities.

    Nihal Friday, 27 March 2020 07:58 PM

    North Korean type punishment is the best option, and lesson for others too, social justice for rest of the people of the country.

    Damith Friday, 27 March 2020 07:59 PM

    Very good decision. Dirty person must jailed.

    Shah Friday, 27 March 2020 08:08 PM

    Well said madam Our people are very stubborn Pls take action on these people you are doing a wonderful service

    Alibaba Friday, 27 March 2020 08:09 PM

    A88hole

    Shanthi sriram Friday, 27 March 2020 08:13 PM

    There should be a body to detect many PP Dr’s treating patients with fever and breathing difficulties for a sum of 500/ by not even checking them out .Its sad these are happening in the Colombo in areas close to temple trees. These medical officers shouldn’t PP at their homes and put other neighbors in danger . The so called closest police station officers frequent this places and oversea such practices.

    Terrence Thambyrajah Friday, 27 March 2020 08:24 PM

    Why didn't the Doctors in the Pvt Hospital contact the Govt Hospital directly and transfer the individual. He is a layman, who would not have taken the illness seriously. Doctors should have known better.

    Sam Lesha Friday, 27 March 2020 08:31 PM

    authorities should publish the name details and the photograph of the perpetrators here after

    Gp Friday, 27 March 2020 08:31 PM

    This person must and should be prosecuted.

    Janaka Friday, 27 March 2020 08:32 PM

    Why he was not sent to Quarantine center when he arrive on 18th of March. What was the airport authorities doing , The full blame should go to the Government for ignoring this person to get out of the airport. Health minister talk nonsense she is not suitable for the post.

    Sam Friday, 27 March 2020 08:38 PM

    It’s high time to publish the names

    Clency Sarath perera Friday, 27 March 2020 08:40 PM

    Is kissing a recovered patient an act of bravery or irresponsibility on the part of the Hon.minister of Health ?

    wimal ellepola Friday, 27 March 2020 08:46 PM

    Why did not the private hospital immediately notify the proper authorities?

    R.Npan Friday, 27 March 2020 08:48 PM

    Action Needs to be taken against Private hospital as well. They should directly handover the patient to Government authorities or informed them. irresponsible work by private hospital authorities.

    RIkzy Jezuli Friday, 27 March 2020 08:56 PM

    It is clear that the man willingly avoided quarantine procedures. This should be treated as an act of terrorism.

    IT is the fault of immigration authorities Friday, 27 March 2020 09:00 PM

    Problem starts with the integration authorities for not notifying his arrival from India. From now on whisk away all arrivals from abroad to quarantine centers

    Rev Wetara Mahinda Friday, 27 March 2020 09:01 PM

    If this piece of in formation was correctly and responsibly published, it implies that the private hospital that involved in the diagnose of his disease allowed him to leave and act freely. Practically and above all legally this private hospital must have taken prompt action to hand over him direct to a government hospital rather than simply asking him to enter such a hospital. the Government should have made it legally compulsory for all private hospitals to act like that in the case of patients affected with corona virus, in particular, at this crucial hour.

    vince Friday, 27 March 2020 09:47 PM

    This shows the calibre of the people who run this country.

    vince Friday, 27 March 2020 09:45 PM

    THE PRIVATE HOSPITALS ARE OWNED BY THE POLITICAL ELITE OF THIS COUNTRY AND THE REST OF THE ELITE. sO THE HOSPITAL WILL HAVE NO ACTION BROUGHT AGAINST THEM WITH THE CONNIVANCE OF THE GOVERNMENT. aS FOR THE NEW COVID CZAR BASIL, HE WOULD DO SWEET FA

    Bandu Wanigasekera Friday, 27 March 2020 09:57 PM

    By 18th all arrivals were quarantined. So how come this criminal escaped from Airport.

    raza Friday, 27 March 2020 10:30 PM

    Why treat him when he has no confidence in State Hospitals.

    Sajith Friday, 27 March 2020 10:50 PM

    Typical behaviour of minority communities, always think they are above the law and demand special treatment, then play the victim when things go wrong. After knowing he was infected he tried to contaminate other people as well.

    Don Friday, 27 March 2020 10:53 PM

    The doctor in the private hospital also equally liable. why he did not call the police or health inspectors and handover him

    suren Friday, 27 March 2020 10:57 PM

    They also held a gathering for 70.Punish as hard as you can legally

    Ranjith Pathirage Friday, 27 March 2020 10:58 PM

    I suspect that this man from East purposely did it. He may be belonging to the same terrorist gang who did the Easter Sunday attacks. So check his background and you may uncover more insight onto it. Put him under lock and 24 hour CCTV. Otherwise he might infect the health care workers as well.

    Dee Friday, 27 March 2020 11:30 PM

    Much publicity was given to other patients where they were who they are etc. Why the silence? No point in comments!

    Chanakya Friday, 27 March 2020 11:44 PM

    This criminal who returned to the island on March 18th was lucky to dodge the airport screening for COVID-19. Who was responsible at the airport to slip this devil and how many were able to avoid screening on that day at the airport. These airport screeners are traitors. They should be punished for treason; the maximum punishment. No bailout waiting for trial and no early release if imprisoned.

    Hondha Hitha Saturday, 28 March 2020 11:40 AM

    Private hospital staff should be punished

    Arthur G Saturday, 28 March 2020 11:55 AM

    His family, doctor of pvt. hospital also responsible the damaged done by this human biological bomb

    Paala Saturday, 28 March 2020 02:51 PM

    This not the first complaint of this nature and not going to be the last,we stay inside with no income assuming to start work soon as possible, millions are like that but due to ignorance, this idiot worsened it ,bring rules to confiescate his wealth and put him in jail

    RAM Saturday, 28 March 2020 04:51 PM

    IT IS ONUS ON THE PART OF THE PRIVATE HOSPITAL TO HAND HIM OVER TO TO THE HEALTH AUTHORITIES, TO PURSUE FURTHER ACTION. IT APPEARS THAT THE HOSPITAL AUTHORITIES HAD FAILED IN ITS DUTIES. PLEASE TAKE ACTION AGAINST THE HEAD OF THE HOSPITAL, BUT THIS NOT POSSIBLE IN SRI LANKA, BECAUSE THE HOSPITAL MAY BE OWNED BY A BIG SHARK IN THE APE ANDUWA, WHERE THE BURUWA HEAD OF THE GOVERNMENT HAS THE DECIDING AUTHORITY. MAY GOD BLESS THE COUNTRY AND PEOPLE


Add comment

Comments will be edited (grammar, spelling and slang) and authorized at the discretion of Daily Mirror online. The website also has the right not to publish selected comments.

Reply To:

Name - Reply Comment





Order Gifts and Flowers to Sri Lanka. See Kapruka's top selling online shopping categories such as Toys, Grocery, Kids Toys, Birthday Cakes, Fruits, Chocolates, Clothing and Electronics. Also see Kapruka's unique online services such as Money Remittence,Astrology, Courier/Delivery, Medicine Delivery and over 700 top brands. Also get products from Amazon & Ebay via Kapruka Gloabal Shop into Sri Lanka

VAT increase: SOUNDs death knell for publishers, readers

Though the Government imposed VAT (Value Added Tax) on vegetables and other e

How female change-makers are driving Sri Lanka’s energy saving platform

Saving energy has become more of a responsibility than a habit in today’s c

A dull Ramadan awaits Muslims amidst the Soaring Cost of Living

In the coming days, Muslims across the world will welcome the Holy Month of R

New wildlife underpass to curtail HEC

As of February 2024, Sri Lanka lost another 38 elephants as a result of the H