How prepared are we to battle Coronavirus!

“With the coronavirus outbreak we are now checking all passengers including crew members,” he added. “They have to fill a voluntary health declaration form and have to specifically fill sections 18,19,20 which inquires where they have visited during the last 14 days, whether they have developed any flu-like symptoms and whether they have come into contact with another person having flu-like symptoms. From yesterday, we are keeping a close watch on where the vessels arrived from as well. The pilot of the ship has to inform us if the vessel has been to a very high risk area mainly China. A general announcement is also made every hour to alert the staff, workers and all employees at the Port. If someone has been tested positive he or she would be sent to IDH. The Immigration officers are helping out with the forms and we are being assisted by the Epidemiology Unit at the Ministry of Health,” he said.

Fishery harbours on alert The Daily Mirror also learned that it is only Sri Lankan vessels that are allowed to be docked at the fishery harbours around the island except at the Dickowita Harbour. “The Vessel Monitoring System at the Department of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (DFAR) is closely monitoring all vessels that are entering the harbours,” said S.N.B.K.S Senaratne, Additional Secretary (Admin & Human Resources), Ministry of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources. “No foreign vessel is allowed to enter the fishery harbours without permission. If there’s a case being reported we have taken adequate measures to conduct health checks on all passengers and crew members,” said Senaratne.

DFAR Director General Prasanna Janaka Kumara justified this comment by saying that the MOH has already deployed its staff to these harbors.

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