By Sarah Hannan
A group of 20 police officers affiliated to the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) is said to have contracted Covid-19 while they were conducting investigations into the Minuwangoda Brandix Covid-19 cluster, Minister of Public Security Dr. Sarath Weerasekera revealed.
This is in addition to the 70 police officers from the Colombo Crimes Division (CCD) who were initially reported to have contracted the virus when they were assigned to trace the origins of the cluster on 5 November.
“These officers were involved in recording statements from over 100 employees who were infected by the virus.”
With the Minuwangoda cluster and its close contacts found to be spreading the disease rapidly, health authorities had been pushed to locate the origins of the cluster. The Attorney General’s (AG) Department, following up on the request of the Ministry of Health, had at the time instructed the Acting Inspector General of Police (IGP) of the time to launch a police inquiry.
The case had been given to the CCD. However, they had to prematurely halt the investigation as a majority of their staff involved in the probe had also found to be Covid-19-positive. The Acting IGP at the time had informed the AG of the inability to carry out the probe, after which the AG had instructed that the investigation be handed over to a different unit.
Dr. Weerasekara also noted that random PCR tests had been performed on about 1,500 employees of Brandix, out of which 400 had been diagnosed with the virus and would be tested for antigens to make sure they were cured of Covid-19.
“These officers were involved in recording statements from over 100 employees who were infected by the virus.”
With the Minuwangoda cluster and its close contacts found to be spreading the disease rapidly, health authorities had been pushed to locate the origins of the cluster. The Attorney General’s (AG) Department, following up on the request of the Ministry of Health, had at the time instructed the Acting Inspector General of Police (IGP) of the time to launch a police inquiry.
The case had been given to the CCD. However, they had to prematurely halt the investigation as a majority of their staff involved in the probe had also found to be Covid-19-positive. The Acting IGP at the time had informed the AG of the inability to carry out the probe, after which the AG had instructed that the investigation be handed over to a different unit.
Dr. Weerasekara also noted that random PCR tests had been performed on about 1,500 employees of Brandix, out of which 400 had been diagnosed with the virus and would be tested for antigens to make sure they were cured of Covid-19.