Sri Lanka: COVID-19 Update

 Official Website
 

• The Health Promotion Bureau (HPB)- COVID-19
  The bureau is under the Ministry of Health and is developing and issuing information, education, and communication (IEC) material regarding COVID-19 (English).
   
• The Epidemiology Unit of the Ministry of Health- COVID-19
  The department is working to promote health and quality of life by preventing and controlling diseases, injury, and disability. They are developing risk communications material for the prevention of COVID-19 (English).
   

• The Health Promotion Bureau COVID-19 Tracker
  The bureau provides the latest national updates. This information includes the total number of cases, deaths, those who have recovered and been discharged from the hospital, and the total number of deaths. 

 Reports & Guidelines 

• Guideline for the Home Quarantine / Quarantine in Non-health Care Settings
  The guidelines explain how to conduct home quarantine and quarantine in a non-healthcare setting. It provides information about measures expected to be taken (English).
   

• Guidelines on COVID-19 Preparedness for Workplaces
  The guidelines outline the procedure to prevent/ control the spread of COVID-19 infection and to promote the health of workers with a professional setting (English).
   

• Rational Use of PPE and Infection Prevention and Control of COVID 19
  The document explains how the coronavirus spreads, the measures to take to prevent infection, and the specific use of personal protective equipment (PPEs) (English).
   

• Management of Accidental Discovery of Suspected COVID-19 Patient in the Hospital
  The report provides a methodology when discovering a patient suspected of having contracted COVID-19. It provides details for the suspected patients, other patients in the ward, health care workers, and the immediate environment (English).
   

• Interim Guidelines for Sri Lankan Primary Care Physicians
  The guideline provides information on the management and procedures regarding the COVID-19 pandemic for primary care physicians at various levels of health facilities (English, Sinhala & Tamil).
   

• Hospital Preparedness for COVID-19 A Practical Manual
  The manual provides a basic outline to establish COVID-19 screening centers islandwide. This Information includes the setup of triage areas, specialized wards, and additional features of Express Treatment Units (ETUs) in the context of prevention and control of COVID-19 infection (English).
   

• Guidance for Preparedness and Response for COVID-19 Outbreak in the School Setting
  The interim guideline provides direction for safety measures on school preparedness as they are reopening (English).
   

• Health Ministry’s Stand on Wearing Masks, Gloves, and Disinfections
  The guideline explains the use of masks, gloves, and the process of disinfection appropriately as per the standard instructions (English).
   

• Combat COVID-19 with a New Style of Life
  The guidelines were issued as the country resumes with the new normal lifestyle. It includes provisions for using public transport, when shopping for essentials, buying goods from mobile vendors, using lifts in the office, at household, and at the workplace (English, Sinhala & Tamil).
   

• Rational Use of PPE and Infection Prevention and Control of COVID-19- Minimum Recommendations in Sri Lanka
  The booklet provides the minimum recommendation established within the country for the rational use of PPE, infection prevention, and control of COVID-19 in various settings (English).
   

• Interim Guidance for Medical and Surgical Procedures in Relation to COVID-19
  The interim guideline provides recommendations for the smooth recommencement of surgical and medical procedures in relation to the COVID-19 (English).
   

• General Welfare of COVID-19 PCR Positive Symptomatic and Mildly Symptomatic Individuals
  The guideline recommends certain measures for the physical and psychological well-being of the COVID-19 PCR positive symptomatic and mildly symptomatic patients (English).
   

• COVID-19 Risk Communication and Community Engagement (RCCE)
  The report was prepared based on a risk communication framework and risk communication plans and describes risk communication related to COVID-19 (English).
   

• Discharge Criteria for COVID-19 Patients- Version 3
  The guideline details revised recommendation criteria to discharge of COVID-19 confirmed patients (English).
   

• Advice for Sri Lankan Students/Nationals and Other Foreign Nationals Returning from High-Risk Area of On-going Coronavirus Transmission
  The document provides advice for Sri Lankan students/nationals and other foreign nationals returning from high-risk areas of on-going Coronavirus transmission (English).
   

• Interim Summary Guidelines for Clinical Management of Patients with Novel CoronaVirus (2019 - N CoV)
  The document summarizes the guide that should be adopted in the clinical management of patients with COVID-19 (English).
   

• Public Advice Form to Minimize the Possible Risk of Spreading the Coronavirus in the Country
  The document provides advice to the public  to minimize the possible risk of spreading the Coronavirus in the country (English & Sinhala).
   

• New Coronavirus: Fact Sheet for School Children
  The leaflet provides advice to school children in order to minimize the possible risk of spreading the Coronavirus within the school community (Sinhala).
   

• Follow Up of Sri Lankan Students/Nationals and other Foreign Nationals Returning from High-risk Areas for Ongoing Coronavirus Transmission
  The document provides a guideline for the regional epidemiologist (RE), area medical officer of health (MOH), and the area public health inspector (PHI) as they monitor the conditions of individuals returning from high-risk countries (English).
   

• Revision to Interim Summary Guidelines for Clinical Management of Patients with Novel Coronavirus
  The revised guidelines provide public health care workers with updated procedures for the clinical management of COVID-19 patients (English).
   

• Q & A on Coronavirus
  The document has compiled and most frequently asked questions (FAQs) regarding COVID-19 and provides explanations and solutions addressing these matters according to the World Health Organization (WHO) (English).
   

• Interim Guidance for Sri Lankan Flights to and from China
  The guideline lists the key instructions that should be provided by the flight crew to passengers who are taking flights between Sri Lanka and China (English).
   

• Follow Up Of Sri Lankan Nationals and Other Foreign Nationals Returning from High Risk Areas for Ongoing Covid-19 Transmission
  The document explains the procedure that health care authorities must adopt when they follow up Sri Lankan nationals and other foreign nationals returning from high risk areas for ongoing COVID-19 transmission (English).
   

• Interim Biosafety Guidelines for Laboratories
  The guideline provides instructions to laboratory workers on handling samples or materials associated with the coronavirus (English).
   

• Guidance for Workplace Preparedness for COVID-19
  The document outlines the key steps to be taken at workplaces to prevent the spread of the new coronavirus (English).
   

• Instructions: Quarantine of High Risk Individuals for the Control of New Coronavirus - 2
  The document provides instructions to relevant health care officers on the quarantine of high risk individuals for the control of the coronavirus (English).
   

• Instructions: Release of Persons who have Quarantined from the Quarantine Centres
  The document provides instructions to quarantine center managers and officers when releasing a person who has quarantined in the designated quarantine centers (English).
   

• Epidemiology Unit Position on COVID-19 –SARS CoV-2 Testing Methods for Diagnosis in Outbreak Control and Prevention
  The document states the position of the departments in regards to COVID-19 –SARS CoV-2 testing methods for diagnosis in outbreak control and prevention of the infection (English).
   

 Infographics & Posters
 

• Defeat Corona
  The leaflet explains a wide range of COVID-19 measures that one should undertake to overcome the coronavirus (English).
   

• How to Prevent from New Coronavirus
  The poster contains basic guidelines on the prevention of the coronavirus (Sinhala).

 Videos
 

• How to Protect Yourself from COVID-19 as a Health Care Worker
  The video explains procedures for health care workers on how to protect yourself from COVID-19 (English).
   
• Travel Awareness on COVID-19
  The video explains the measures one should take if they have certain symptoms after returning to Sri Lanka (English)
   
• Adhering To Stay Home - Rules For Protection
  The video discusses the importance of staying at home during the COVID-19 pandemic (English).
   
• Message for the Youth on Protection and be Responsible During COVID-19
  The video explains how the youth should follow health guidelines and take responsibility during the COVID-19 situation (English).
   

* Cover Photo by Unsplash. Flag, Official Website, Reports & Guideslines, Infographics & Posters, and Videos icon by Flaticon.