GMOA warns vigilance necessary to avert second wave

• Raises concerns over opening country for tourism in August 
• Says SLTDA guidelines may need to be revised in line with global developments 
• Highlights five areas Govt. should consider when reopening 
• Recommends PCR tests be ramped up to 68,000 a month to ensure no community spread continues

The Government Medical Officers’ Association (GMOA) yesterday raised concerns over the Government’s decision to open the country for tourism in August and warned additional vigilance was necessary to avert a second wave of infections. 

Commenting on the Government’s decision to open the country for tourism in August, the GMOA stated there was a need for a balance between boosting tourism to strengthen the economy and ensuring there were no health risks.

It was also important to take into consideration the global situation regarding COVID-19 and identifying the right timelines and countries that qualify for travel to Sri Lanka, the GMOA said in their statement. They added that the Government must also consider any revisions and changes to the current guidelines issued by the Sri Lanka Tourism Development Authority.

The Association went on to outline five areas that must be given consideration if tourists are permitted to travel to Sri Lanka. This includes the way in which overseas arrivals are subjected to testing, whether they should be quarantined, permissions granted to individual travellers and group travellers, treatment facilities for foreign arrivals, and contact tracing if foreign arrivals test positive for COVID-19.

According to the GMOA, a committee has been appointed by them to inform the Government and Health and Indigenous Medical Services Ministry in 14 days of factors related to the revival of the tourism industry.

They also warned of the risk of a second wave of COVID-19, stressing on the need to build confidence among the public of there being no COVID-19 patients in the community.

According to the statement, the GMOA’s recommendation was to conduct a minimum of 68,000 PCR tests a month and they argued that random testing that covered the entire country would confirm there is no community spread of the virus.

The GMOA also outlined four ways in which there can be a community spread of the virus. These include foreign arrivals, persons at quarantine centres, hospitalised COVID-19 patients, and those who come into contact with these three categories.

“Proper management of these four groups can prevent the virus from spread among the community again,” the GMOA stated.