COLOMBO, Oct. 13 (Xinhua) -- The number of COVID-19 patients in Sri Lanka rose to 4,893 on Tuesday after 49 new cases were detected from a new cluster located in Minuwangoda on the outskirts of capital Colombo, the government information department said.

The new cluster was detected last Sunday after a 39-year-old female who was employed at an apparel factory in Minuwangoda and her 16-year-old daughter tested positive for the virus, leading to thousands of PCR tests being conducted on all factory employees and their associates within the past week.

Till Tuesday afternoon, 1,446 people have tested positive for COVID-19 from the Minuwangoda cluster with authorities saying that further contact tracing was ongoing to trace the second and third contacts of the patients.

Army Commander, Lieutenant General Shavendra Silva who is also heading the National Operation Center for Prevention of COVID-19 Outbreak (NOCPCO) told Xinhua that despite an increase in cases in recent days, this was not a community spread as all new patients were linked to the Minuwangoda cluster.

However, he urged people to be cautious and strictly practice all health guidelines, including wearing face masks, washing hands and maintaining social distancing.

A curfew remains in place in Minuwangoda and some other areas of the Gampaha district since last Sunday while schools islandwide also remain closed.

The Health Ministry said in a statement that random PCR tests would be conducted across the country including in capital Colombo in the coming weeks following a surge in the number of patients.

According to the Health Promotion Bureau of the Health Ministry, Sri Lanka has conducted 342,343 PCR tests since February.

Deputy Director General of Health Services Dr Hemantha Herath told local media that the present spread of COVID-19 in the country was limited to clusters and it will take at least two months to bring the situation under complete control.

He further said Sri Lanka has sufficient hospitals to admit COVID-19 patients even if there is a surge in infections.

The Health Ministry on Monday said it will soon gazette the health guidelines making it a law for the public to wear face masks, maintain social distancing, keep their hands sanitized and adhere to all other health regulations. Anyone breaking this law will be arrested.

Sri Lanka has recorded 13 COVID-19 related deaths so far. Enditem

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