There have been instances of the Minuwangoda COVID-19 cluster extending to the first and second contacts, according to Army Commander Lieutenant General Shavendra Silva.

The Head of the National Operation Centre for Prevention of COVID-19 Outbreak (NOCPCO), joining the TV Derana breakfast show ‘Derana Aruna’, said that 26 of the COVID-19 cases reported yesterday (10) were from Minuwangoda, while 23 are from Gampaha and 22 are from Divulapitiya.

In addition, 01 infected person from Panadura, 02 from Colombo, 02 from Polonnaruwa, and 01 from Matale have been also been detected yesterday. At least one person from different parts of the country has been identified so far, he added.

The Army Chief says that the virus can be transmitted to as many as 522 people through a single infected person.

However, it cannot be ascertained yet that the virus has entered the society apart from the cluster, he said.

While it has not yet been possible to identify the origin case of the cluster, the focus is currently on to determine the possible infections through the cluster, the Army Chief said.

As per the investigations carried out so far, it has been revealed that there had been Minuwangoda apparel employees who had reported illnesses to the facility’s sick bay since the September 21.