Thursday Dec 12, 2024
Thursday Dec 12, 2024
Wednesday, 23 December 2020 00:20 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}
President Gotabaya Rajapaksa yesterday ordered the suspension of arrivals of passengers from the United Kingdom with immediate effect to prevent local spread of the new strain of COVID-19 virus currently spreading across that country.
The decision was taken at the daily meeting of COVID-19 Prevention Committee held at the Presidential Secretariat following a review of the new strain of the virus and its spread, the President’s Media Division (PMD) said.
Passengers arriving in the island from the UK will be accommodated at hotels after conducting PCR tests and will be quarantined for 14 days under the supervision of health officials. They will be further subjected to 14 more days of home quarantine.
The crew members of cargo flights inbound from London are also subjected to quarantine.
The President drew the attention of the COVID Committee to the need to expedite introduction of the COVID vaccine to Sri Lanka.
COVID vaccines have been developed by a number of countries led by US, UK and China. The Principal Advisor to the President Lalith Weeratunga was authorised to coordinate necessary action in consultation with the relevant countries and local health authorities after an in-depth study of the different vaccines.
The groups to be vaccinated will be determined based on need and priority, the statement said. It was also decided to collect data on high risk areas including estates, flats and hostels and other groups.
Minister of Health Pavithra Wanniarachchi, State Minister Sudarshani Fernandopulle, Member of Parliament Madura Vithana, Secretary to the President Dr. P.B. Jayasundera, and Principal Advisor to the President Lalith Weeratunga, officials of the airport and aviation and members of the COVID Prevention Committee were also present.
SriLankan Airlines used to operate seven flights a week from the UK with five arriving via Male.
