Hendala Leprosy Hospital selected as quarantine facility

• Quarantined travellers from South Korea, Italy, and Iran to be sent under Health Ministry decision

The Hendala Leprosy Hospital has been selected as the first quarantine facility for travellers from South Korea, Italy, and Iran, following the Government’s decision to make a 14-day quarantine period mandatory for those entering Sri Lanka from these countries.

A statement issued by the Health and Indigenous Medicine Services Ministry quoted Health Services Director General Dr. Anil Jasinghe as saying the hospital was ideal for quarantine purposes, and that the Sri Lanka Army will assist in efforts to convert the Leprosy Hospital into a quarantine facility.

Those who are being quarantined have not tested positive for coronavirus, Jasinghe said, emphasising the fact that if a traveller does test positive, they will be hospitalised instead of being quarantined.

“They are being quarantined because, even if they don’t test positive, the virus can remain in the body for up to 14 days,” he added. However, he assured that those in surrounding areas of the Hendala Leprosy Hospital were at no risk of contracting the virus.