At least 26 COVID-19 cases at Badalgama garment factory

At least 26 employees of the Sirio Ltd, an apparel manufacturer at Badalgama in the Gampaha district, have contracted COVID-19, the company said in an announcement on Thursday forcing the closure of the factory.
The full statement is as follows:

“Sirio Ltd recommenced its operations in April this year (after an initial lockdown) with the assistance of PHIs and medical officers, strictly adhering to all precautionary and safety measures set out by the Board of Investment and Health Ministry, with the aim of safeguarding its employees. With the intention of further strengthening its safety at workplace, the company has conducted over 900 PCR tests to-date, and an additional 600 PCR tests have been conducted by the MOH office.
“While functioning without any issues for the last two months, from the date the second wave began, an employee in the production unit who has had fever and cold had gone to the Negombo District General Hospital. The hospital staff have asked her to self-quarantine for 14 days. Sirio Ltd, having immediately tested her during its routine weekly PCR tests, had found her to be Covid-19 positive on November 25.
“With the prevailing situation in the country and upon advice from the medical officer of health, Sirio Ltd took immediate steps to trace the first contacts and sent them for self-quarantine. On the following day, Sirio Ltd arranged PCR tests for those first contacts and second contacts as well, and found that all were negative. Based on the recommendations of the medical officer who visits the company daily, two employees from the production unit who showed some symptoms were included for PCR testing. Subsequently, they were found to be COVID-19 positive on November 29, and their close associates were traced and directed to PCR tests and self-quarantine.
“With the assistance from the area medical officer of health and the PHI, Sirio Ltd sent another 150 employees for PCR tests on November 20. The test results which came on December 2 found and confirmed that 23 of its employees were infected with the virus. All those who closely associated with them were traced and directed for PCR tests with the help of the Regional MOH Director and other MOH doctors and PHIs.  Sirio Ltd was able to carry out over 500 PCR tests on December 2nd evening, and are awaiting for the results.
“Despite the MOH Office of Gampaha District requesting Sirio Ltd to continue operations of its factory, Sirio Ltd decided to temporarily close the factory for a few days to prevent further spread of the virus until the pending PCR results are received.”