Navy Camp in Sri Lanka locked down as 60 tested positive for Covid-19

The Navy Camp at Welisara was declared an isolated area after 30 naval personnel at the Camp have tested positive for COVID-19 earlier.

Therefore all navy personnel at the Welisara Navy Base were quarantined and subjected to PCR testing immediately.  

Another 30 naval personnel have tested positive for the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) as of this evening, says the Commander of the Army Lieutenant General Shavendra Silva.

He added that the number of coronavirus cases identified from the naval camp has soared to 60.

Army Commander Lieutenant General Shavendra Silva making a special statement  said that a sailor from the Sri Lanka Navy who was on leave was admitted to the Welikanda hospital after suddenly falling ill, and a PCR test confirmed he had contracted the virus.

Thereby, other Navy personnel who shared the same lodging quarters and office spaces as the infected sailor and all persons who associated with him had been quarantined and directed for PCR testing.

As per the results of testing, 30 Navy personnel, including the previously identified sailor, have tested positive for the coronavirus.

Accordingly, the barracks at the Welisara Navy Camp which the sailor was attached to was quarantined and all those in the barracks were also quarantined.

The Army Commander said the sailor who fell ill on Tuesday had contracted the virus from another he shared lodging with, who had also tested positive for the coronavirus.

Army commander lieutenant General Shavendra Silva said further that it has been confirmed that the navy personnel had contracted the virus during the oprtaion carried out to take those who were sddicted to drugs in the suduwella, Jaela area to the quarantine centres.

Further, all personnel of the Navy Base who had recently gone on leave have been called back immediately and will also be subjected to PCR testing as well, said the Army Commander.

The Navy said that at least 4,000 people at the Welisara Camp, including sailors and their families, have been quarantined within the camp.

As of 6.00 p.m. Friday (24), Number of  of COVID-19 positive cases in 19 in Sri Lanka rose to 414