A total of 630 persons from the Kegalle District were in self-quarantine as of yesterday (21) and are under strict surveillance of public health inspectors (PHIs) as well as the area Police, The Sunday Morning learnt. The situation in the district has escalated following reports of a Warakapola Pradeshiya Sabha (PS) member testing positive for the novel coronavirus (Covid-19) recently. Subsequently, the Warakapola Medical Officer of Health (MOH) had taken measures to alert the public to take necessary precautions through a mobile public announcement unit. “The said PS member had held election rallies during the past few days and we managed to trace many who attended his meetings and places he visited, and instructed these persons to observe self-quarantine at their homes,” an official attached to the Warakapola MOH told The Sunday Morning. He further noted that steps were taken to supply meals and other essentials during the self-quarantine period to those who were exposed to the virus. Meanwhile, several media reports indicated that the PS member represented the Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP) and was a resident at Nelundeniya in Morawaka. The Sunday Morning contacted SLPP General Secretary Sagara Kariyawasam for clarification and was informed that he too got to know about it through third parties and had not officially received any information about the PS member. He further stated that without official confirmation, he could not comment.