Colombo (News 1st) A number of doctors and staff attached to the Ragama Hospital were directed to self-quarantine.

Deputy Director of the Ragama Hospital Dr. Sarath Premasiri speaking to News 1st said the decision was taken as a COVID-19 case was receiving treatment in the men’s ward.

He said a person from Ja-Ela visited the Ragama Hospital complaining of a chest pain, and despite many inquiries from the staff on possible contact with COVID-19 cases or those who visited Sri Lanka from overseas, the patient had denied such contact.

Thereby, he was admitted to a normal ward for treatment for his chest pain and on the second day a relative had revealed, the patient had attended a party hosted by a group that visited Italy recently.

Deputy Director of the Ragama Hospital Dr. Sarath Premasiri immediately, the patient was moved into isolation and tests were carried out, where it was confirmed he had COVID-19.

He said during the 01 1/2 days the patient was in the normal ward, Doctors, Nurses, Staff, Patients and others were exposed.

He stressed on the need for the General Public to always disclose vital information and if the patient had revealed the truth, there would have been no requirement for a 14 self-quarantine of a large number of people attached to the Hospital.