For all incoming passengers and visitors arriving in Sri Lanka from abroad, the Director-General of Health Services has released updated COVID-19 quarantine guidelines.
According to the guidelines, they must obtain permission to enter the country from the Foreign Affairs Ministry and other appropriate authorities, or from Sri Lanka Tourism.
It goes on to state that all travelers can apply a completed Health Declaration Form to the staff of the Airport Health Office at the arriving airport’s health counters.
Key points in the guidelines for Sri Lankan citizens/dual citizens and foreign nationals:
• For passengers who have received the recommended doses of COVID-19 vaccine:
– They should arrive in the country after two weeks of completion of COVID-19 vaccination.
– Upon arrival, they should produce the original copy of the vaccination certificate together with a certified copy of English language translation if the certificate is not in English language, to the Airport Health Officer.
– They will be referred to a PCR test within 24 hours upon arrival (Day One) from a private or state sector laboratory approved by the Health Ministry.
– Once the test report is available, they will be released from the quarantine hotel or centre by issuing a discharge document mentioning the date of PCR sample collection and PCR test result.
– They should undergo repeat PCR on Day Seven after arrival to Sri Lanka from a private or state sector laboratory approved by the Health Ministry.
• For passengers who have not received the COVID vaccine or not completed the recommended doses of vaccination and arrive in Sri Lanka within less than two weeks of vaccination:
– If they are undergoing hotel quarantine (single or shared by family members), they will be referred to PCR testing on Day One and Day Seven.
– However, if they are under quarantine at a centre, they will be subjected to PCR testing on Day One and Day Ten.
– If both tests are negative, they will be released from the quarantine procedure, following the second PCR test.
Upon being discharged, all arrivals are required to arrange their own transport method to go to their respective residences from the quarantine hotel or centre.
Immediately upon arriving home, they should inform the area Medical Officer of Health (MOH) by telephone or email and produce a discharge document issued by the designated authority at the quarantine hotel or centre.
After informing the area MOH, the travellers, who have received both vaccine doses and obtained a negative PCR report on Day One of arrival, are not required to quarantine further.
For those who have not received the recommended vaccine doses, a balance home-quarantine period (out of 14 days) under the supervision of area MOH, is mandatory.
All PCR test results must be informed to the MOH attached to their respective residential area. If one of the PCR test results is positive, they should inform the MOH, and follow the treatment protocol of Health Ministry.
If febrile or display respiratory symptoms of COVID- 19 during the quarantine period, they should inform the relevant MOH.
In the meantime, separate guidelines issued for tourists arriving in the country have also been revised by the Director-General of Health Services. – Ada Derana
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