Beruwala fisheries harbour closed off after Covid-19 exposure

The fisheries harbour in Beruwala has been closed off after 20 fish vendors were exposed to Covid-19.

In addition, Beruwala Pradeshiya Sabha building and the Aluthgama Fish Market were also temporarily closed due to the prevailing situation.

Nearly 700 fishermen, vendors and their contacts are expected to be referred to PCR tests today.

Health authorities had carried out 100 random PCR tests at the fisheries harbour yesterday (22) in the light of increasing numbers of Covid-19 infections connected to the Peliyagoda Fish Market.

The virus-positive vendors at the fisheries harbour have been identified as residents of Beruwala, Maggona, Munghena, Nallahena, Moragolla and Maradana areas.

Kalutara District Administrative Public Health Inspector of National Institute of Health Sciences said, results of 74 PCR tests carried out at the Aluthgama bus stand on Wednesday had revealed that a fish vendor from Aluthgama area had contracted the virus. Subsequently, the samples from Beruwala fisheries harbour tested at the Jayewardenepura University laboratory had confirmed 20 positive cases, he added.