The Sinhala daily newspaper Aruna has reported that Government Medical Officers Association Chief Dr. Anuruddha Padeniya has prevented public health officials from entering his home or quarantining him and his family after it was revealed a doctor who had visited the Padeniya residence recently had tested positive for Covid 19.
According to reports a doctor attached to the Government Medical Officers Association (GMOA), a resident of Uggalgoda, Minuwangoda had tested positive for Covid 19 yesterday (13). It is said he had also attended a function held at GMOA Chief Dr Anuruddha Padeniya’s residence on January 8.
The social gathering had been held for a few family friends of Dr. Padeniya including the Covid 19 infected doctor. However the GMOA claims no doctor belonging to its association has tested positive for Covid.
But the Aruna newspaper today revealed that while the GMOA doctor has in fact tested positive for Covid 19 three public health inspectors in charge of the area had gone to Padeniya’s house to submit quarantine orders of the Minuwangoda Medical Officer of Health but was prevented to do so by Padeniya. The paper said the officers had not been allowed to enter the house and that the residents had disconnected the electricity to prevent the officials from entering the residence.
Minuwangoda Regional Medical Officer of Health Dr. Anuja Fernando has instructed that the doctor be referred to the National Institute of Infectious Diseases for treatment after being diagnosed with Covid infection and all those who participated in the party should be quarantined.
Accordingly, three public health inspectors in charge of the area came to Dr. Anuruddha Padeniya’s house at around 7.45 last night (13th) and tried to quarantine him, but it failed. The reason was that the doctor did not open the gate and turned off the electricity in the house.
Due to this, the Public Health Inspectors have informed the Kelaniya Regional Medical Officer of Health of the incident. She has stated that the officers should go and quarantine Anuruddha Padeniya this morning (14).
