AG orders police to probe spread of Covid-19 from Brandix factory

AG orders police to probe spread of Covid-19 from Brandix factory

The Attorney General has directed the Acting IGP to investigate the spread of COVID-19 from the Brandix apparel factory in Minuwangoda.

He has also instructed the police to submit a progress report on the investigations within two weeks. 

The Minuwangoda facility had become the epicenter of a surprise resurgence of COVID-19 cases in the country after a female employee of the factory had tested positive for the virus earlier this month.

Brandix, a prominent apparel manufacturer in the country, said that the rigorous protocol implemented across the label, and the immediate response and support received from the PHI and relevant health authorities of Sri Lanka enabled the early detection of the patient, ensuring her timely transfer to IDH for immediate treatment and mitigation of any further spread of the virus.

However, the cases had soon spread to other apparel factories in the district and other parts of the country while it is believed this also led to the emergence of another cluster, the Peliyagoda Fish Market. 

The total confirmed cases from the Minuwangoda and Peliyagoda clusters have neared the 5,000 mark presently becoming the single biggest COVID-19 outbreak in the country yet.

Meanwhile the death toll from the virus has climbed to 19.