COLOMBO (News 1st); Sri Lanka’s Health Ministry introduced new Quarantine Measures for travellers arriving from overseas during the COVID-19 pandemic situation.

“The quarantine measures are imposed with immediate effect irrespective of COVID-19 vaccination status,” said a Health Ministry statement.

1.1 All travellers arriving from overseas including Sri Lankans (including Sri Lankan Seafarers/Sea Marshalls arriving to go home), Dual Citizens, Tourists, Foreign Nationals (including Valid resident visa holders) should be mandatorily quarantined at a Quarantine Hotel/ Quarantine Centre / Safe and Secure Certified Level 1 Hotel until completion of fourteen days.

1.2 All Sri Lankan staff members serving in Diplomatic Missions/UN Organizations in overseas who are holding Diplomatic/UN/Official passports and their accompanying parents, spouses and children should be mandatorily quarantined at a Quarantine Hotel/ Quarantine Centre/ Safe and Secure Certified Level 1 Hotel until completion of fourteen days.

1.3 All foreign national staff members of the diplomatic missions/UN organizations who are holding Diplomatic/UN/Official passports and their accompanying parents, spouses and children should be mandatory quarantined at a Quarantine Hotel/ Safe & Secure Certified Level 1 Hotel until completion of fourteen days.

1.4 All officials mentioned in letter No. DGHS/COVID-19/347/2021 dated 13.04.2021 should be mandatorily quarantined at a Quarantine Hotel/ Quarantine Centre / Safe and Secure Certified Level 1 Hotel until completion of fourteen days.

Children below two years are exempted from Day One (on arrival) and exit COVID-19 PCR testing.

All travellers of twelve years and above should undergo Day One (on arrivaI) COVID-19 PCR testing and all travellers of two years and above should undergo Day 11 to 14 PCR testing.

All travellers should be released from the Quarantine Hotel/ Quarantine Centre / Safe and Secure Certified Level 1 Hotel after completion of fourteen days of quarantine with negative COVID-19 test results done on Day One (On arrival) and Day 11 to 14.

Quarantine period of above-mentioned travellers will be extended, if they are identified as immediate close contacts of a COVID-19 positive person.

This quarantine measure is effective until 31st May 2021.

This mandatory quarantine period will be revised depending on the COVID-19 situation in the country and the global situation.

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