TikaWeeks #11-1/2020: Sri Lanka & Maldives update
Posted by John on 9th March 2020
In the face of the World Health Organization (WHO) declaring coronavirus disease (COVID-19) a public health emergency of international concern, should you cancel or postpone your travel plans? It depends, say public health experts. The WHO is recommending that elderly travellers and those with underlying health conditions delay or avoid travel to areas that are experiencing ongoing transmission of COVID-19 – thankfully, Sri Lanka is not one of them.
That is because the disease, while mild in some 80% of cases, can be fatal for people who are above 65 years or who have chronic illnesses. The list of countries experiencing local transmissions is updated daily by the WHO.
In Asia, it currently includes Cambodia, China, India, Indonesia, Japan, Malaysia, Maldives, Philippines, Singapore, South Korea, Thailand and Vietnam.
Sri Lanka has had one confirmed imported case of COVID-19 reported 41 days ago. There are no current reports of local transmission.
The Sri Lanka Ministry of Health has issued a press release and introduced a 24-hour hotline for anyone requiring information on coronavirus: +94 710170717.
You can find more information about cases in Sri Lanka on the TravelHealthPro website
Please also refer to the British Foreign & Commonwealth Office website for Sri Lanka for current official travel advice.
In Maldives, there have been two recent confirmed cases of coronavirus and Kuredu Island Resort has been placed under temporary quarantine as a precaution.
On 27 February 2020, the Government of Maldives imposed a ban on all persons who have been in the last 14 days to Mainland China (not including Hong Kong), Iran, South Korea (North Gyeongsang and South Gyeongsang Provinces), Italy and Bangladesh from entering or transiting through Maldives. All passengers and airline crew must fill-in a Health Declaration Card and an Immigration Arrival Card before arriving in Maldives and undergo a screening procedure. Quarantine facilities have been set up to isolate any suspected cases. You should comply with any additional screening measures put in place by the local authorities.
Passengers arriving by air from countries with a high incidence of coronavirus may be subject to additional health screening and a quarantine requirement if they are demonstrating symptoms.
You can find more information about cases in Maldives on the TravelHealthPro website
Please also refer to the British Foreign & Commonwealth Office website for Maldives for current official travel advice.
Further information on coronavirus, including advice on preparing for foreign travel and helping reduce the spread of the virus, is available from Public Health England and on the TravelHealthPro website.
The British government, through Public Health England, has produced an official guidance, “COVID-19: specified countries and areas with implications for returning travellers or visitors arriving in the UK”.
Categories: Financial protection, Flights, Health, Maldives, News, Sri Lanka, Travel tips
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