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Coronavirus cases continue to rise in Sri Lanka amidst fear of spread in foreign ministry

The total number of people currently infected with the COVID-19 coronavirus has now risen to 10 in Sri Lanka, as the foreign ministry confirmed the family member of an officer was one of those diagnosed positive.

In a statement this morning, the Ministry of Foreign Relations confirmed that “one of the family members of an officer of the Foreign Ministry” has tested positive and since Friday the officer concerned has been self quarantined.

“As an initial step, those staff who have come in direct contact with the officer concerned, during one working day earlier this week in Colombo, and others in an European capital where the person was working 2 weeks ago, have been advised to ‘self quarantine’,” it added.

The Ministry of Foreign Relations has also decided to limit the provision of consular services in 11 Sri Lanka Missions overseas commencing 16 March including Italy, Iran, South Korea, France, Spain, Germany, Switzerland, Denmark, The Netherlands, Sweden and Austria.

The Sri Lankan government has since declared Monday, March 16 as a public holiday as the number of cases continues to grow.

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