Health Minister declares COVID-19 quarantinable communicable disease

Health Minister Pavithra Wanniarachchi has declared Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) a quarantinable disease under the Quarantine and Prevention of Diseases Ordinance.

This will add COVID-19 to a list of around 20 other communicable diseases that have been declared as quarantinable diseases such as cholera, chickenpox, mumps, typhoid, etc.

It will be legally mandatory to report cases of COVID-19 to the nearest Public Health Inspector (PHI) and Medical Officer of Health (MOH) in areas where it is detected from now on.

Failing to do so carries a penalty of six months’ imprisonment and a fine.