Salient Points Revealed in Thursday's Media Briefing on COVID-19

Following are the salient points that were placed before the Media Thursday (19) evening at the National Operation Centre for Prevention of ‘COVID-19’ Outbreak at Rajagiriya, co-presided by Hon Minister of Health Pavithra Wanniarachchi and Head of the National Operation Centre for Prevention of ‘COVID-19’ Outbreak, Lieutenant General Shavendra Silva, Chief of Defence Staff and Commander of the Army.

* Seven more COVID-19 positive cases have been identified in Sri Lanka and the total confirmed positive rose to 59.
* The government has already set up 17 quarantine centers and a total 2463 are under quarantine in those places.
* Four personnel including 2 foreigners are under quarantine at the quarantine center in the Naval Camp in Boossa, Galle.
* 81% of the total number of COVID-19 infected are males and 45.2% of them are in the age groups of 41 to 50, according to Director General of Health Services
* Instructions have been given to the managements of five star hotels, hoteliers and restaurant owners to educate their guests inclusive of foreigners, not to leave the hotel premises unless if it is very urgent case. Those hotel management has also been urged to give maximum protection to those residing foreigners sans any harassment.
* However, with guidance given by specialists, inclusive of doctors in the Health Ministry and also the assistance given by medical officers, attached to the SL Army & Air Force, steps were taken by the government to produce personal protective uniforms and personal protective equipment, needed whilst engaged in quarantine.
* Minister of Health informed that an allocation of Rs 500 Million was approved by the Cabinet to fight against the virus.
* Dental & Eye Clinics are to be operational only if there prevails an emergency need..
* 500 Intensive Care Units across the country are ready to accommodate the worst-affected but others are quarantined in segregated wards. In addition, the Government hospital in Welikanda has been completely renovated and improvised by the troops to serve as a quarantine center.
* It was also revealed that 8437 individuals who have come from COVID-19-affected countries have now been registered with the relevant authorities for self quarantine.
* All immigrants upon their departure are required to produce the Quarantine Certificate at the time of their check-out from the airport. All foreigners currently in Sri Lanka are therefore urged to undergo the two-week long quarantine process. This applies to foreigners who are expected to arrive in Sri Lanka too.
* 113 passengers, out of 127 who had arrived in Sri Lanka after a pilgrimage to India by Flight No UL 149 on Wednesday (18) have been confined to self quarantine process. 14 out of them had been referred to the quarantine center in Rantambe.
* All 142 passengers who arrived here by Flight No UL504 which arrived here around 1245 noon today (19) were being taken to quarantine centers and one of them had to be hospitalized .
* Police curfew has been in force in Wattala, Puttalam, Chilaw, and Negombo until further notice

Source: www.army.lk