Mar 21, Colombo: Health officials say 441 COVID-19 infected persons have been identified after PCR tests today among the employees of the Sapugaskanda oil refinery, creating a new cluster of coronavirus.

Over the past few days, 1,200 employees of the Sapugaskanda Oil Refinery have been subjected to PCR tests and so far 474 COVID-19 positive cases have been identified, officials of the National Operation Centre for Prevention of COVID-19 Outbreak (NOCPCO) said.

They said another 174 PCR test results are pending.

Health officials in the area said that the relatives of those infected were quarantined.

The Gampaha Health Services Director’s Office said one employee was found positive for the coronavirus during a rapid antigen test conducted on February 15.

Due to finding more positive cases occasionally, comprehensive PCR tests were carried out on the employees on the 19th with the intervention of the Office of the Director General of Health Services.

However, the Ceylon Petroleum Corporation says that it is operating the oil refinery with the help of non-infected employees and temporary workers. An additional 400 workers have been temporarily hired due to the shortage of workers at the refinery.