Director General of Health Services (DGHS) Dr. Anil Jasinghe today issued a fresh circular clarify the Health Ministry’s position on quarantining of persons who travel between districts.
In the circular issued today ( 11 April), the DGHS informed that the restrictions imposed on traveling between districts in order to prevent any potential transmission of COVID-19 across the country should remain unchanged until further notice.”
It added that if any person travels between districts with permission for essential services or for healthcare or any other justifiable reason, such people need not be quarantined. “This includes those who traveled to districts identified as high risk for COVID-19 ,” the circular said.
It added that if any person is found to have traveled unauthorized crossing district borders or even within the district from travel restricted areas, such incidents should be carefully assessed for the need of quarantining and appropriate action should be take and also should be communicated to the Officer-in-Charge of the area police for appropriate action.”
The new circular is a deviation from the one he issued on 8 April which stated ,” There is no need for quarantining any person who has traveled out of the residing district or returning home from another district. This include those who have traveled to districts identified as high risk for COVID-19.”
The Government Medical Officers’ Association (GMOA) objected to earlier circular and wrote to President Gotabaya Rajapaksa stating that its membership and other public health staff are deeply disturbed by this sudden unilateral decision and warned of the possibility of adverse consequences.