Kandakadu cluster: Inmates of several houses in Aranayaka placed in self-quarantine

Thirteen inmates in three houses in the Aranayaka area in Kegalle have been placed in self-quarantine due to their close association of a staff member of the Kandakadu Drug Rehabilitation Centre who tested positive for COVID-19. 

The staff member, a Cadet Officer holding the rank of Lt. Col. had recently returned to his home village in Ussapitiya, Sudugala. He had also visited two schools in Ratnapura last week in his capacity as a cadet officer and attended to some work in the offices of these schools, Sabaragamuwa Province's Director of Health Palitha Kannangara stated. 

The officer had also traveled to Kegalle and subsequently, his ancestral home in Sudugala, Ussapitiya, Aranayaka to visit his mother. He had also visited his brother's house while his wife and child had also visited the house of her sister-in-law in Iddawala, Aranayaka. 

After the officer's PCR test came back positive for COVID-19, 13 inmates at the officer's mother's, brother's and sister's houses have been asked to self-quarantine by Public Health Inspectors. The PCR tests on all 13 were conducted yesterday and authorities are awaiting the results before deciding on further action. 

By Pradeep Kumara Dharmaratne in Aranayaka