COVID-19 scare grips Matara as Russian crew member tests positive

by PRIYAN DE SILVA

Media reports that a Russian staying at a boutique hotel in Polhena, Matara had tested positive for COVID-19 caused panic in Matara, yesterday.

The COVID-19 patient was one of the 15 crew members of a Russian cargo flight, which arrived in Sri Lanka, last Sunday. The aircraft departed yesterday with 14 crew members who had tested negative.

Health authorities said the foreigner who had tested positive had been transferred to the Hambantota hospital while the 23 employees of the hotel, drivers of vehicles in which the group had travelled, the members of their families and others who had come into contact with the group had been asked to undergo self-quarantine. They said there was no need for the people to panic and all precautions had been taken to prevent the spread of the disease.

Contact tracing was underway and the situation was under control, health officials said.

However, the people who spoke to The Island said the Russians had been sighted in places like supermarkets in the Matara town. Many others may have come into contact with them.