21 January 2021 06:43 pm
Only the people with COVID-19 complications should be sent to quarantine centres while the others with symptoms should be directed to serve home quarantine, State Minister of Batik, Handloom and Local Apparel Products Dayasiri Jayasekara said.
He said sending all, including COVID-19 positives, people with symptoms and associates to quarantine centres is a very costly exercise, as the Government is running out of monetary resources.
He told the Daily Mirror that the government is spending heavily on maintaining quarantine centres and also, the lack of medical staff is another issue.
State Minister Jayasekara who was tested positive with COVID-19 on January 8, had been receiving treatment at a Hotel quarantine centre in Hikkaduwa.
"I had fever for a few days and subsequently tested positive for COVID-19, he said.
"Most of the people who had been taken to quarantine centres had shown no symptoms. Rather than taking such people to quarantine centres, it is advisable to direct them to serve home quarantine and help the government to utilize its funds on positive cases," he said.
Other than sending all, only people with COVID-19 complications, should be sent to quarantine centres, while others should be advised to remain indoors and serve home quarantine," the State Minister said.
Announcing the positive cases and the number of COVID-19 patients should be kept as a record, he said.
Moreover, he said the people should inform the area Public Health Inspectors (PHIs) about the symptoms they develop.
"The Government should utilize the electoral register and with the help of the respective Grama Niladaris for easy identification of the infected and those who develop symptoms," the State Minister added. (Chaturanga Samarawickrama)