MOA demands aggressive testing ... two active clusters, threat remains

More Lankans arrive from Covid-19 affected countries



by Shamindra Ferdinando-May 27, 2020

The Government Medical Officers Association (GMOA) yesterday (27) drew the government’s attention to the need to prevent a second wave of coronavirus infections as the country had to tackle two major clusters at Welisara navy base and among those recently returned from overseas.

The GMOA stressed the need to ensure a tough quarantine regime in respect of the returnees as well as the airline staff involved in the continuing operation. The influential trade union organization underscored the importance in managing entry points and proper management of the two active clusters.

Those returning from overseas should be subjected to RT-PCR tests on Day 1, 10 and 14th, the GMOA said, urging all stakeholders to strictly follow the guidelines or face the consequences. The warning was given in the wake 268 Sri Lankans arriving in the country from Qatar.

The group arrived at the Bandaranaike International Airport (BIA) in spite of an earlier decision to suspend flights temporarily after an extraordinary number of covid afflicted persons were found among those who arrived from Kuwait less than a week ago.

In the wake of suspension of previously scheduled flight from Qatar, Foreign Secretary Ravinatha Aryasinha instructed Sri Lanka’s Acting Ambassador there to provide accommodation for those who had undergone a lot of hardships. Foreign Secretary Aryasingha yesterday told The Island that he intervened because of the cancellation.

The head of the Presidential Task Force spearheading economic revival Basil Rajapaksa on Monday (25) told Salakuna programme on Hiru TV that health administration was strongly opposed to the rapid repatriation of Sri Lankans as the system could be overwhelmed.

The Presidential Secretariat, too, on the following day pointed out that of197 who had returned recently from Dubai, United Arab Emirates 20 were tested COVID – 19 positive. In addition ninety six of 150 Sri Lankans who had returned from Kuwait were tested positive for coronavirus, the Presidential Secretariat said over 300 from Kuwait were yet to undergo RT-PCR testing.

Almost all the returnees from Kuwait had been detained at various welfare centres or deportation centres pending repatriation, the Presidential Secretariat said.

The flight from Qatar arrived close on the heels of the government announcing plans to arrange flights in  such a way to prevent quarantine centres being overwhelmed.

Such plans have been necessitated by large numbers of covid afflicted among the recent returnees unlike those who returned earlier with only a fraction infected, government sources said,

The President’s Media Division said: "By May 25th, a total of 5485 Sri Lankans from 20 different countries were brought back. Out of the total 4826 have been identified by the Ministry of Foreign Relations and Sri Lankan missions overseas. Only 05 or 0.01% out of them were found to be infected following diagnosis."

The GMOA warned that corona threat persisted though the situation was stable due to preventive measures taken since March.

Well informed sources said that the failure on the part of those responsible to act swiftly and decisively caused deterioration of the situation at Welisara. Evacuation of the base was carried out over a period of three days beginning May 19, nearly a month after the detection of corona afflicted sailors that led to the isolation of the base. Over 3,000 officers and men were shifted to security forces bases in the Northern Province and several hostels in the North Western region.

Sources said that some of those who had been shifted from Welisara were moved to Iyakachchi, Mullaitivu, Iranamadu, Pompemadu, Talaimannar et al.