The Public Health Inspectors Union of Sri Lanka says an increase in COVID-19 cases has been witnessed at present.
President of the Union Upul Rohana said 40 COVID-19 cases were recorded during the past week in the country.
He stated that a coronavirus detection system must be introduced especially focused on individuals entering the country from countries that have lately recorded an increases in infections.
Some countries – wary of an influx of cases – are imposing Covid testing, and possible quarantine, on visitors from China.
Omicron has been the dominant global variant for more than a year, but that does not exclude the possibility that a new variant of concern will emerge in future.
A key reason that many countries are imposing Covid checks on travellers from China is the lack of surveillance data coming out of the country.
Several countries are asking travellers from China to produce a negative Covid test in order to gain entry.
The US said this would “slow the spread” of the virus, while scientists worked to identify any potential variants that may emerge.
But no-one is suggesting that this will stop Covid cases coming in.
Italy has gone further, and is imposing mandatory post-arrival PCR tests on travellers from China.
Those that test positive will need to quarantine for several days.
