A large number of Sri Lankan expatriates remain stranded in safe houses in Dubai city, United Arab Emirates after the COVID-19 virus affected their residential and employment areas, says the National Operation Centre for Prevention of Covid-19 Outbreak (NOCPCO).

On a presidential directive, immediate action will be implemented as soon as possible to bring them down to Sri Lanka, the NOCPCO’s Task Force said during its meeting held on Tuesday (03).

“This emergency measure is to be implemented in coordination with all stakeholders because the quarantine procedure hitherto conducted in 72 tri service-managed quarantine centers and hotels used for the same purpose would cease to function with the departure of all quarantined individuals back to their homes within next two days,” Army Commander Lieutenant General Shavendra Silva said adding that such places could easily be used for those expatriates arriving home”.

In the meantime, completion of PCR tests within one day as instructed by the President, is to be introduced covering target groups who could be more vulnerable to the virus, and tests are to be conducted as groups, the Head of NOCPCO explained.

Payment of the allowance of Rs 5000, home delivery of medicine to patients, supply of Rs 10,000 worth budget packets of essential food items, near culmination of Quarantine procedures in quarantine centers and hotels are among other measures that have now been kept in place, he elaborated.

Hospitalization of new cases, screening of self-isolated people, categorization of PCR tests, random ones that should be performed in specific congested places, maintenance of economic activities as usual, tracing of new contacts in a more scientific manner, conduct of antigen tests, facility for a Hotline service in NOCPCO were among other prominent issues that were taken up for discussion during the meeting.