Several COVID-19 cases at Bodyline (Pvt) Ltd Horana

At least 35 workers at the Bodyline (Pvt) Horana factory belonging to MAS Holdings have tested positive with COVID-19, the company said on Monday.
In a detailed media release, the company said that the safety of its employees is the number one priority at all MAS facilities, and this is very much the case at Bodyline (Horana) as well, where stringent health and safety measures have been implemented.
The factory has had weekly audits by the local PHI’s and conducted more than 550 random PCR tests on all its team members since the outbreak of the Minuwangoda cluster in the community, with a view of early detection in the event of a positive COVID case within the facility.
In such a routine round of PCR testing, it was informed by the Horana MOH at midnight on Friday October 30 that one of the team members tested positive for COVID-19. The following key points outline the timelines and actions taken by the management of Bodyline after receiving confirmation of the positive diagnosis;
• Upon confirmation from the Health authorities, the management of Bodyline took immediate action to close the plant on Saturday October 31 and identify and trace close contacts of the affected team member,
• Approximately 200 team members who were associated with the affected team member were placed on self-quarantine with arrangements made for PCR tests in collaboration with the Health authorities,
• From these 200 team members, PCR tests were carried out in collaboration with the Health authorities on 145 of the closest contacts,
• On Sunday November 1, of the 145 tests carried out on these close contacts, 34 more team members were confirmed as positive for COVID-19.
• Following that confirmation, the management decided to close the plant until further notice and will re-commence only after extensive PCR tests are carried out amongst other team members, complete sanitization of the facility and clearance from the Health authorities.
“We are in touch with the Horana Health and Police authorities in taking further action based on their instructions. We will continue to monitor the situation proactively in collaboration with the Ministry of Health and take necessary action to prevent the spread of this virus within our facilities and in the communities we operate in,” the statement said.