Fresh COVID-19 quarantine measures rolled out from today

• Passengers from South Korea, Italy and Iran to be quarantined at two locations 
• Health Ministry recommends 14-day self-quarantine for travellers from all countries 
• Ministry also suspends all pilgrim travel to India
• Qatar bans SL travellers

To prevent the spread of the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) in Sri Lanka, fresh quarantine measures will be rolled out for passengers from South Korea, Italy and Iran from today, with travellers from other countries also being requested to self-quarantine for 14 days by the Government, a top official said yesterday.     

Quarantine efforts will begin with the quarantining of passengers arriving on a morning flight from South Korea. Health Services Director General Anil Jasinghe told reporters yesterday that passengers would be subjected to a disinfecting process and then transported to the Batticaloa and Kandakadu quarantine centres by bus. 

“The passengers will be held separately depending on the date of arrival and all facilities and services will be provided,” Jasinghe said, adding that they will be released after a 14-day period.“If they require any medical assistance, basic services will be provided at the centre and all other services will be provided at a hospital,” he added.

The Health and Indigenous Medicine Services Ministry has also recommended self-quarantining for all those arriving from abroad and 3,900 individuals are currently under observation by medical officers of health and public health inspectors. Yesterday’s situation report by the Epidemiology Unit showed a total of 16 under observation at hospitals.

In addition to this, the Ministry has also decided to temporarily suspend pilgrimages to India until further notice. The reason for this is the number of COVID-19 patients in India as well as the advanced age of most pilgrims.

Jasinghe also requested the public to limit foreign travel as much as possible during this time.

Meanwhile, Qatar has banned entry to people arriving from 14 countries, including Sri Lanka, due to concerns over COVID-19. The ban went into effect yesterday, covering China, Egypt, India, Iran, Iraq, Lebanon, Bangladesh, Nepal, Pakistan, the Philippines, South Korea, Sri Lanka, Syria and Thailand.

This measure is in line with Qatar’s efforts to take all necessary preventive measures to limit the spread of coronavirus, the Government Communications Office said in a press release on Sunday.

The decision affects all individuals intending to enter from these countries, including those within the visa on arrival category, with a residence or work permit and temporary visitors.