Residents of On320 apartment to undergo PCR tests after one resident tests positive

One male residing at the On320 apartment complex at Union place tested positive for COVID-19 late on Sunday night and was immediately transferred to the IDH hospital, Health officials told Daily Mirror today.

As a result, movement has been limited into the apartment complex and health officials said that PCR tests will be conducted on all residents in the coming days.

The families and individuals residing in this apartment complex include individuals from the diplomatic community and foreigners who are employed in leading foreign companies. 

The patient was a resident of Tower 2 and his family has been subjected to self isolation. As of yesterday, his children had tested negative for the virus. There are 4 apartments on the floor the patient resides and all these families have been informed to limit their movements.

However, movements have not been entirely restricted for the residents and the second reading of the PCR test of the patient is expected today.

"The apartment complex is not closed but the family is under self isolation and certain health guidelines are now being followed. The neighbors have not come in touch with each other. We urge people not to panic. We need a couple of days to conduct the PCR tests on all the residents as it is too early," health officials said. 

The patient was employed in an IT firm, and one of his colleagues had tested positive for the virus as his brother was an employee at the Brandix Minuwangoda plant. "So the source of this infection is also known," health officials said.

Health authorities have informed all residents to come forward if anyone is suffering from a cough, fever or cold while PCR tests will be conducted on all in the coming days.

Meanwhile, this patient is the 6th COVID-19 positive patient found from Colombo since the detection of the COVID-19 cluster in Minuwangoda last week, Colombo Municipal Council health workers said. Since last Saturday, one female from the Lady Ridgeway Hospital, three employees from the Colombo National Hospital, who had come in contact with the Lady Ridgeway Hospital employee, one resident from the On320 apartment and one resident from Kent Road had tested positive.  

Yesterday 200 PCR tests had been conducted in Colombo while on Sunday 163 tests had been conducted. (JAMILA HUSAIN)