Courtesy Adaderana

The Ministry of Health has decided to convert Leprosy Hospital in Hendala into a quarantine facility for passengers arriving in the country from Italy, South Korea and Iran where COVID-19 is spreading at a faster rate outside of China.

Delivering a special statement in this regard on Wednesday (04), Health Services Director General Dr. Anil Jasinghe stated that every passenger reaching Sri Lanka from the aforesaid three countries will be quarantined for 14 days as per a decision reached by the National Action Committee set up to prevent the spread of COVID-19 in island.

The National Action Committee on COVID-19, chaired by Health Minister Pavithra Wanniarachchi, convened at yesterday (03).

Dr. Jasinghe also spoke of the facility that was previously set up at Diyatalawa army camp’s Base Hospital to quarantine students, who were evacuated from, Wuhan, the epicentre of the deadly virus.

He added that quarantine is for people who may have been exposed to COVID-19 but who are yet in a healthy condition. Those who have contacted the virus are not quarantined but hospitalized,” Dr. Jasinghe noted. If a person is infected with the virus, a virus can take up to 14 days to show symptoms, he explained.

Sri Lanka Army is rendering its maximum support to convert the Leprosy Hospital into a quarantine facility, Dr. Jasinghe stated.

He also emphasized that health and safety of the residents in the vicinity of the Leprosy Hospital will be fully ensured.