57 connected to Kandakadu Rehab Centre test positive for COVID-19

Health authorities have identified 57 COVID-19 patients today (9), the Government Information Department announced a short while ago. 

Issuing a statement, the department stated that 56 of the patients are inmates at the Kandakadu Drug Rehabilitation Centre while the 57th is a female resident of Marawila. This woman too had worked as an counselor for recovering drug addicts at the Kandakadu Rehabilitation Centre.

The department added that the inmate at the Welikada Prison who tested positive for COVID-19 on Tuesday had spent about three months at the Kandakadu Drug Rehabilitation Centre before being transferred to the Welikada Prison.

Accordingly, nearly 450 inmates and staff at the Kandakadu Rehabilitation Centre have been subjected to PCR tests so far. The tests have so far detected 57 persons as having been infected with COVID-19, Director General of Health Services Dr Anil Jasinghe stated. 

Further PCR tests on those at the centre are being conducted.