23 January 2021 02:27 am
Health Minister Pavithra Wanniarachchi has reportedly gone into quarantine after a Rapid Antigen Test conducted on her yesterday for COVID-19 came in positive, sources told the Daily Mirror last night.
As a result, Wanniarachchi has self-isolated herself and undergone a PCR test, the results of which were still unknown as of late last night.
If Wanniarachchi's PCR test comes in positive, she will be the fifth parliamentarian and second cabinet minister to test positive for the virus.
Wanniarachchi had late last year partaken in several religious rituals, which included her dropping a holy pot into a river, to rid the country of the virus which has to date infected over 55,000 people and caused over 250 deaths.
She was also last month seen in pictures, consuming the anti COVID19 tonic, made by Ayurvedic practitioner Dhammika Bandara.
According to Health Ministry officials, Wanniarachchi has been listed in the first group to receive the anti COVID-19 vaccine along with healthcare workers, once the vaccines arrive in the country sometime next month. (JAMILA HUSAIN)