Over 300 prisoners and staff members of the Welikada Prison were subjected to PCR tests yesterday following the detection of a prisoner who tested positive for the COVID-19.
Speaking to the Daily News, Commissioner (Admin) Chandana Ekanayake said that all the prisoners in the ward, where the positive patient had been held, were subjected to a PCR test. The positive patient was sent to the IDH.
“The ward and all other wards at the Welikada Prison were cleaned and sanitized yesterday. The particular prisoner was being held at the Kandakadu Drug Rehabilitation Centre and had arrived in the I-2 ward on June 27 for a court case. We generally test all prisoners who are brought to Colombo prior to sending them back. Accordingly, we tested him on July 3rd and again on the 06th which is when he tested positive.”
However, Prison Commissioner Ekanayake said that it is not likely that the infection had spread to others as the particular prisoner had not been allowed to mingle with other prisoners.
He said that no visitors will be allowed to the Welikada Prison until further notice. Meanwhile, speaking to the Daily News Prison Commissioner Maj. Gen.(Rtd) Dharshana Hettiarachchi said that preparations are being made to test the inmates of the Kandakadu drug rehabilitation centre following the detection of a Covid-19 positive case yesterday. He said that the said prisoner had been sent to Colombo on the 26th and as such all other inmates at the Kandakadu Rehab Centre and the staff members would also have to be tested.
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