5 January 2021 06:44 pm
As the Government has decided to completely reopen all airports for overseas visitors, the Health Ministry said it has taken steps to rectify the mistakes by a few Ukraine tourists when the airports were reopened on December 26 last year as a pilot project.
There were reports that the Ukraine tourists, who arrived in Sri Lanka had failed to follow health protocols recommended by the Sri Lankan Government.
Addressing the media, Deputy Director-General of Public Health Services, Dr. Hemantha Herath said today the pilot project was the culmination of a five-month-long discussion and analysis in collaboration with the Tourism Ministry and other relevant stakeholders.
“We knew that such mistakes would happen with the Ukraine tourists, who first arrived in Sri Lanka after reopening of the airports from December 26 onwards. That was why we carried out it as a pilot project.
However, he said the Health Ministry together with Tourism Ministry has now identified the vulnerable factors and would hope to rectify them quickly.
“We have already issued the relevant guidelines to all tourists who have arrived already and are expecting to come to Sri Lanka. What we can do is to monitor the process whereas it is not practical for the health officials to act as watchmen at places where tourists visit,” Dr. Herath underlined.
“The media also have the responsibility to inform the relevant officials when tourists fail to follow health guidelines,” he added.
Meanwhile, he said there are 2,560 beds are kept ready to treat COVID-19 patients out of 11,880 beds and added 8,096 beds have already been occupied by patients in 71 hospitals as of today.
Dr. Herath also said as the Government was preparing to reopen schools, it was of utmost importance that the schoolchildren abide by the health guidelines without leading a cluster to emerge from their respective schools. (Sheain Fernandopulle)