10 April 2020 06:03 am
The Government Medical Officers Association (GMOA) has raised concerns to President Gotabaya Rajapaksa regarding a circular issued by Director General of Health Services, on quarantining of high risk individuals. In a letter to the President, the GMOA said the circular had been issued without reaching consensus of relevant stakeholders. According to the above circular, "There is no Need for quarantining any person who has travelled out of the residing district or returning home from another district. This include those who have travelled to districts identified as high risk for COVID-19" "At the moment, above group of people are quarantined by the Public Health Staff at Provincial /District and Division levels, in order to prevent possible outbreaks within low risk areas," it said. "Our membership and other Public Health staff are deeply disturbed by this sudden unilateral decision and they have informed us about the possibility of adverse consequences," it added. "We as the GMOA has already forwarded proposals on an exit strategy consisting of development of criteria to define Sterile, Buffer and contaminated zones and a governance structure for movements within each and every zone, as well as for crossing of borders," it said. They requested the President to take appropriate interventions with regard to the circular, in order to avoid potential disruption of above exit strategy and resulting disastrous consequences.