SL on alert for Coronavirus

Saturday, 25 January 2020 00:00 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

Health Ministry tells Parliament of screening at airport, special attention on travellers from China

To prevent the Coronavirus from entering Sri Lanka through the Bandaranaike International Airport (BIA), the Government has increased screening of passengers, taking multiple safety measures using a newly established Health Desk at the airport.

Minister of Women and Child Affairs and Social Security, Healthcare and Indigenous Medical Services Pavithradevi Wanniarachchi, responding to Opposition Leader Sajith Premadasa, explained the alertness on preventing the virus-infected passengers from entering the country, “All passengers arriving at the BIA are informed about the Health Desk prior to their descent. Passengers can obtain assistance from the medical team positioned at the desk if symptoms of the infection are noticed. However, the passengers’ body temperatures will be automatically detected when they walk through the terminal. All the passengers arriving from China will be closely examined.”

According to the Health Minister, both President Gotabaya Rajapaksa and Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa have instructed her to take all necessary measures.

“I can assure that as a Government, we have taken all relevant precautions to make sure the country is safe from this epidemic. Only one incident has been reported from the Health Desk where a Chinese kid was directed to IDH. Following the check-up, it was revealed that the kid was only suffering from average diarrhoea and fever. He was cleared and released. No other incidents have been reported,” she said. (AH)

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