COVID-19 patients will be prioritized; repatriations could be limited: State Minister

COLOMBO (News 1st): The COVID-19 patients in the country will be prioritized and as a result, there is a need to impose restrictions on the rate of repatriations, Dr. Sudarshani Fernandopulle, the State Minister of Primary Health Care, Epidemics, and COVID Disease Control stressed on Thursday (May 06). "The quarantine centres are being converted to Intermediate COVID-19 Care Centres to ensure that required facilities are made available. Therefore, if we allow a large number of repatriations, it will be difficult to provide facilities for the increasing rate of patients; meaning the rate of repatriations needs to be limited. We need to give priority to the COVID-19 patients in the country," Dr. Fernandopulle emphasized. Given the limited quarantine facilities available at present, Dr. Sudarshani Fernandopulle noted that unlike in the recent past where 1300 to 1600 returnees were brought to the country, limitations could be imposed on the rate of repatriation.   [audio mp3="https://cdn.newsfirst.lk/english-uploads/2021/05/06052021-SUDHARSHANI-FERNANDOPULLE-REPATRIATION.mp3"][/audio]