Lax PCR testing rules at airports can boomerang with arrivals causing new clusters

By Rathindra Kuruwita

If there is a resurgence in COVID cases due to clusters forming around foreigners who are allowed to allow enter the country without undergoing PCR test at the airport, those who allowed that must be held responsible, says President of the College of Medical Laboratory Science (CMLS), Ravi Kumudesh.

Kumudesh told The Island yesterday that he had earlier warned that Sri Lanka was receiving a significant number of tourists from countries notorious for forged PCR test reports and thus, allowing people in without being tested at the Airport would have disastrous consequences.

“The relevant officials have decided that fully vaccinated (two weeks after getting double jabbed) travellers, who arrive with negative PCR reports, done within 72 hours prior to embarkation, or a negative Rapid Antigen Test report, done within 48 hours prior to embarkation, will be released from the airport and do not have to undergo Day One PCR test or quarantine after arrival here,” he said.

Unvaccinated children below 12 years, accompanying fully vaccinated parents who are Sri Lankan citizens/Dual citizens/Resident visa holders will also be allowed to proceed.

“These officials and politicians are justifying the decision by taking France and the UK as examples. However, this decision was taken to make some businessmen happy. If this decision leads to a resurgence of the pandemic, those who authorised it must be held responsible. We have had almost all variants of concern in Sri Lanka and these variants arrived here through inbound travellers,” he said.