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Other countries should have treated sick foreigners like we did: DGHS

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29 May 2020 10:32 am - 11     - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

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If other countries where expatriate Sri Lankans are employed think humanely and accord the hospitality to them in the same way Sri Lanka accorded to foreign nationals, Sri Lanka would not have faced the problem of repatriation of hundreds of sick Sri Lankans, Director General Health Services (DGHS) Dr. Anil Jasinghe said yesterday.

He added that no country has the right expel any one sick from that country according to international conventions and on norms and protocol of decency and human rights.

He however vowed that the government would not hesitate for a moment to bring back each and every Sri Lankan stranded or remains in a helpless state or even sick but added it takes time.

Sri Lanka kept the first COVID 19 victim found in the country - a female Chinese tourist – until she recovered fully before sending her back.

“We need to maintain a gap between flights that brings Sri Lankans back because with the arrival of Covid 19 infected Sri Lankans, our fight against the viral infection comes under heavy pressure. We have three clusters that tested positive for Covid 19 and among those who were detected from the society during our random PCR tests were Navy personnel and those who arrived home from abroad after being infected. The danger we have confronted at the moment is that the number of sick among those coming back from abroad are rising rapidly. Yesterday alone 97 Sri Lankans arrived home from Kuwait tested positive for the viral infection,” he said.

Sri Lanka recorded the highest ever number of Covid 19 infections of 150 on Wednesday night spiralling the patients’ tally to 1,469 as of yesterday with 92 were expatriate Sri Lankans who arrived from Kuwait and five came back from Chennai, South India and the rest were 53 Navy personnel.

With the largest number of detections in 24 hours on Wednesday night, the country’s Covid 19 situation also changed dramatically. For instance, the number of hospitalisation of Covid 19 patients increased by 237 to 714 yesterday from 577 the previous day.

A total of 430 Sri Lankans and 3 foreign nationals who have arrived in Sri Lanka from abroad since March 20 have been hospitalised. Among Covid 19 victims, there are 771 Navy personnel and 303 others who have had close contacts with them have also been hospitalised and 75 tested positive for the viral infection were admitted to various hospitals in the country yesterday alone.

Consultant Physician of the National Institute of Infectious Diseases (NIID), Dr. Eranga Narangoda meanwhile said two Covid 19 patients remained at the ICU of the NIID and one of them was in critical condition yesterday and added the other was improving.(Sandun A Jayasekera)

 


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  Comments - 11

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  • Chris Friday, 29 May 2020 11:39 AM

    Yet another feather in the cap for our hospitality. Should make use of it to promote tourism!!

    Curious Friday, 29 May 2020 11:54 AM

    How many did we treat?

    Abdul kaiyoom Friday, 29 May 2020 12:52 PM

    The government of Kuwait has granted an amnesty from April 1-30 to all undocumented expatriates to leave at Kuwait’s expense without paying fines, with a chance to return in the future. Sri Lankan nationals can apply from April 20 to 25. The Kuwaiti government has also taken steps to provide the undocumented workers with food and shelter.

    Arith Friday, 29 May 2020 12:56 PM

    This person has been betrayed his professional ethics and now acting as a political tool.

    BuffaloaCitizen Friday, 29 May 2020 01:04 PM

    Those countries treat Sinhalese in a similar manner to the way you have treated Tamils in the past.

    Narada Friday, 29 May 2020 01:15 PM

    You treat our own Sri Lankan’s like animals especially Kuwait expatriates and the Muslim community for political and whatever the gains. Now trying to advise other countries.

    Dee Friday, 29 May 2020 01:21 PM

    Wow. They should make you the Elections Commissioner.

    Doctor Friday, 29 May 2020 01:49 PM

    Look after SL people. Don't try to advise other countries. You are a sour grape .

    Abdul kaiyoom Friday, 29 May 2020 01:56 PM

    DGH never treated death body as a humanity

    Martin Milton Friday, 29 May 2020 06:06 PM

    Simplistic comments aside, nothing more true has been said with regard to Sri Lanka's treatment of 'COVID-19' affected sick foreigners. Other richer nations please take note. MM

    Sim Saturday, 30 May 2020 10:05 PM

    You cremated Covid19 victims and others without any postmortem and acting against the WHO instructions. The Srilanka High Commissioner for Kuwait says all srilankans were checked for covid 19 and only the negative ones sent back


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