Sri Lankan authorities today request general public to help the government officials to contain a possible COVID19 outbreak in Sri Lanka. Sri Lankan government health officials early today announced the confirmation of the first local resident infected with COVID19. According to the reports the person has been working as a 52 year old tour guide and recently travelling with a team of tourists from Italy. According to Dr. Anil Jayasinghe the authorities are now taking steps to identify and quarantine the people who were in contact with this person and the tourists during the past two weeks time.
In a special press briefing Health Minister Pavithra Wanniarachchi requested people coming from COVID19 prevailing countries like China, South Korea, Iran and Italy to adhere with the special Quarantine procedure put in place just as a precaution to stop COVID19 from coming in and spreading it within the country.
According to local media reports yesterday (9th March 2020) some of the people arrived from South Korea and Italy protested against the facilities available at the quarantine centers.
Dr. Anil Jayasinghe speaking in this press conference requested general public to refrain from participating non essential foreign tours like pilgrimages to reduce the risk of getting this viral infection during these tours.
