Colombo, January 28 (Daily Mirror) – Police and health teams will be deployed at the exit points of the Western Province from today, to detect any possible COVID-19 patients who may be leaving the province, unaware that they are infected, officials said.
As a result teams will be deployed at 11 exit points, to conduct antigen tests on those leaving the Western Province for the long weekend.
In a list obtained by the Daily Mirror, the 11 exit points where officers will be deployed are Kochchikade, Aluthgama, Nittambuwa, Hanwella, Kotadeniyawa, Mirigama, Dompe, Thiniyawala, Ingiriya, Baduraliya and Meegahathenna.
Rapid Antigen tests will only be conducted on those exiting and will not be conducted on those re-entering.
Further, the Daily Mirror learns that on the southern expressway, teams will be deployed in Welipenna as that is the area bordering the Western province.
All vehicles using the southern expressway will be diverted to the Welipenna rest area where teams will be deployed to conduct Antigen tests on all passing vehicles. No vehicles will be allowed to pass through without being diverted to the area set up to conduct the Antigen tests as the Daily Mirror learns that traffic cones have been set up along the road to allow vehicles to pass through a single line only after being checked. Teams at all 11 exit points will be deployed at any given time of the day or night and all those who will be stopped have been urged to oblige. Those refusing will have to face legal action, police said.
Although random testing will be conducted only till February 1, if a large number of patients are detected from today onwards, the tests will continue until further notice. (Jamila Husain)
