All foreigners except those from the United Kingdom will be permitted to enter the country with an online Electronic Travel Authorization (ETA), a spokesman for the Immigration and Emigration authorities said yesterday. Moreover, all those entering will have to submit a negative Polymerize Chain Reaction (PCR) in keeping with the guidelines of the Sri Lankan health authorities. This follows plans to reopen the airports on January 21 for tourists and all stakeholders of the industry have been told to strictly adhere to health guidelines.
The global death toll from Covid-19 hit two million on Friday and vaccination efforts are under way globally where several vaccines received the green light for mass production.
State Minister for Primary Health Services, Pandemics and Covid Prevention Sudarshani Fernandopulle told the Sunday Observer yesterday that arrangements have been made to start the vaccinations in Sri Lanka from next month.
According to statistics by the Health Promotion Bureau (HPB), the country recorded a death toll of 225 after four more Covid-19 deaths were reported on Friday.
A 90-year-old woman from Kiribathgoda died at the National Institute of Infectious Diseases Hospital while receiving treatment after testing positive for the virus, a 60-year-old man from Colombo 10 also died of the virus at the Base Hospital in Homagama.
A 78-year-old man from Nawalapitiya has also died of the virus while he was receiving treatment at the Iranawila Covid-19 Treatment Centre, and another man aged 75 years from Colombo 15 has died in his home. It was later found that he was infected with the virus.
The HPB shows that over 51,000 people were infected with Covid-19 since the outbreak and over 44,000 of them have recovered and discharged. The authorities are currently monitoring over 7,000 active cases.
As the health authorities have imposed strict regulations to mitigate the spread of the virus, 2,514 people were detained for failing to wear face masks and not maintaining social distance.
Police Media Spokesperson Ajith Rohana said the arrests were made since October 30.