APD | Over 150 Sri Lankans to be evacuated from China

By APD writer Easwaran

Over 150 Sri Lankans are to be evacuated from China as the coronavirus continued to spread with China on Sunday morning announcing 15 more deaths from the new coronavirus, including one in Shanghai, the first reported so far in the metropolis.

The Sri Lankan Government said that steps are being taken to bring back 150 Sri Lankan students from Chengdu in the Sichuan Province within the next 48 hours.

President Gotabaya Rajapaksa had instructed the authorities to repatriate all Sri Lankan students in Wuhan and Sichuan.

Meanwhile, the Sri Lankan public was on Sunday requested to wear face masks in crowded places as a precautionary measure following the threat of the coronavirus spreading from China to other countries.

Health officials said that while steps have been taken to prevent the virus from entering Sri Lanka, the public must take some precautions.

Chief Epidemiologist at the Ministry of Health Dr. Sudhath Samaraweera advised that children and pregnant women avoid crowded places.

The public has also been advised to avoid people suffering from fever or a cold.

When coughing the public has been urged to use a handkerchief and also properly dispose of facial tissues.

The general public has also been urged to wash their hands often and have a hand sanitizer with them when going out.

Dr. Sudhath Samaraweera said that Sri Lanka is on maximum alert for the virus with scanners installed at the airport.

He also said that health officials are at hand at the airport to deal with anyone having symptoms of the disease.

(ASIA PACIFIC DAILY)