A new notice is to be pasted on homes where families are home-quarantined with effect from today.

Police spokesman, Deputy Inspector General (DIG) Ajith Rohana said that it has been found that some families disregard the notice.

As a result, apart from the notice pasted by health authorities, another notice will be pasted from today.

The new notice will carry the details and contact numbers of the area Police, Medical Health Officer and Divisions Secretary.

DIG Ajith Rohana reiterated that no one can leave or enter a house where a family has been placed under home-quarantine.

“If anyone enters or leaves a home where a family has been placed under home-quarantine they can be arrested without a warrant,” he said.

However, a family member can be taken to hospital if there is an urgent requirement after informing the relevant authorities by contacting the numbers on the notice.

It was decided this week that first contacts, including family members, of people who test positive for the coronavirus will be home-quarantined and not taken to quarantine centers.

Head of the National Operations Centre for the Prevention of COVID-19 (NOCPC) Army Commander Lieutenant General Shavendra Silva had told Colombo Gazette that first contacts of confirmed patients will have to strictly adhere to the advice of health authorities during this period.

They will be instructed to remain indoors until a PCR test is conducted and the result is received.