Head of the National Operations Centre for the Prevention of COVID-19 Outbreak (NOCPCO) Army Commander Lt. General Shavendra Silva yesterday stated that random PCR tests are scheduled to be carried out in all factories with a large workforce.

“Random PCR tests have been carried out since the initial COVID-19 outbreak in March this year. But following the detection of a new COVID-19 cluster in Minuwangoda, random PCR tests will be intensified and will be carried out on a large scale,” the Army Commander said.

He further stated that the PCR tests will cover not only the other factories linked to the Minuwangoda factory, but also other garment factories and places with a large workforce.

“Despite a quarantine order being issued earlier, some employees of the Minuwangoda factory have failed to report to the allocated locations announced by the Police Department. Accordingly, military personnel have been deployed in conducting door-to-door visits to find these employees. The irresponsible behaviour of these people will put both military personnel and the public in jeopardy,” he added.

The Army Commander requested Minuwangoda apparel factory workers or contacts who have not reported to health authorities to contact the Sri Lanka Army via 0113456548 for facilities to be provided.

He further said that the 64-year-old woman from Warapalana area in Yakkala who died while being taken to the Galkanda Quarantine Centre in Muttur was not been infected with the COVID-19.

He further said that this woman is the mother of a COVID-19 infected worker at the Brandix facility in Minuwangoda and the cause of the death of this woman has been confirmed as a heart attack.