Visitors to Sri Lanka from South Korea, Italy and Iran where there is high prevalence of the COVID-19 will be directed to two quarantine centers in the Eastern Province from today, Health Services Director General Dr. Anil Jasinghe said.
He said that the Batticaloa Private Campus and Kandakadu Rehabilitation Centre in Welikanda have been converted to quarantine facilities for those who arrive on the island from the above mentioned destinations.
The Health Ministry announced that the decision to use the two premises as quarantine facilities was taken during a meeting held with President Gotabaya Rajapaksa on Saturday.
Accordingly, all people who come to Sri Lanka from Iran, South Korea and Italy, where the new strain of COVID-19 is fast spreading, will be quarantined for 14 days.
The Batticaloa Campus is located in a somewhat isolated area in the Eastern Province. The Kandakadu Center, which was once functioning as an LTTE center, was now being used as a rehabilitation center for misguided people.
The Health Ministry said all necessary facilities for quarantine are being prepared at the two locations.
Earlier last week, the Health Ministry said that the Leprosy Hospital in Hendala would be converted into a quarantine facility for those who arrive on the island from countries affected by the COVID-19. However, the proposal was met with resistance from the residents.
(Daily News)