• Quarantine, Epidemiology Units reviewing Covid-19 situation

Officials at the Ministry of Health’s Quarantine Unit and Epidemiology Unit are currently reviewing the Covid-19 situation in the country, particularly in the wake of China experiencing a fresh wave of the pandemic, but as of yesterday (29), there was no specific circular issued with regard to guidelines or any related action, noted Health Ministry Communications Director and Deputy Director General of Health Services Dr. Hemantha Herath noted. 

Speaking to The Morning yesterday, Dr. Herath said, however, that the message of wearing a face mask needs to be constantly issued, and that there are certain actions that need to be followed, although they are not mandatory. 

He also said that new actions should be initiated with regard to the above only after examining the costs and benefits. 

“We are contemplating on whether or not to initiate such new actions. Whatever we are going to initiate would have a cost on society as well as the Government. Therefore, we will have to make sure that the cost-benefit of certain actions needs to be weighed before taking any drastic actions. It is under review, so we will see,” he added. 

China has abandoned its zero-Covid policy and will lift its Covid-19 travel restrictions from 8 January 2023, making its airports fully operational for outbound visitors, amidst a fierce Covid-19 wave in mainland China.

The US, India, Italy, Taiwan, South Korea, Malaysia, and Japan have already announced that they would place restrictions on travellers arriving from China.

Meanwhile, it was reported on Wednesday (28) that a six-year-old girl and her mother who arrived in Madurai, India, from China, via Sri Lanka, have tested positive for Covid-19. The report said that both were isolated by the authorities and that according to the Madurai District Collector, samples collected from them have been sent to the lab for further testing.

Last week, Dr. Herath said that though there will not be any special arrangements made to handle Chinese tourists, health officials would continue with their surveillance of Covid-19 cases by subjecting symptomatic patients to undergo polymerase chain reaction (PCR) tests. 

“Among the Chinese travellers, if they get sick, we will be checking them for Covid-19 as well,” he added.

Meanwhile, the Ministry on 7 December relaxed the Covid-19 restrictions that were in force for inbound travellers. Tourists are not required to produce a vaccination certificate and PCR test on arrival.