Only 4 of 31 clusters remain active now: DIG

• 14 Covid-19 cases are drug addicts
• Giving temporary accommodation to outsiders prohibited 

By Kelum Bandara 

All COVID-19 patients have been reported from 31 clusters, and only four of them remain active at the moment, an official said yesterday.   

A cluster is the aggregation of cases in an identifiable sub-population. Deputy Inspector General (DIG) of Police Ajith Rohana said in a video footage released to the media that all these clusters could be identified by contact- tracing of individuals suspected to have contracted the disease. He said all these clusters, other than four, had been closed.   

“Actually, we have successfully brought under control the spread of the disease in three out of the four clusters that are yet to be closed. In that sense, we can say only one remains really active. We could achieve it due to the hard work by the intelligence authorities in contact tracing ,” he said.  He said 14 of the total 653 cases that were reported by yesterday evening were drug addicts. 

 
“The disease has spread from them to a great extent leading to the formation of clusters. From now onwards, it is prohibited for anyone to give accommodation to outsiders in their houses. We kindly make this request to slum dwellers and those living in housing blocks. If anyone gives accommodation to an outsider at least for a few hours, he or she will be charged under the quarantine law, the Penal Code or the Police Ordinance ,” he said.   

Actually, we have successfully brought under control the spread of the disease in three out of the four clusters that are yet to be closed. In that sense, we can say only one remains really active. We could achieve it due to the hard work by the intelligence authorities in contact tracing