COLOMBO – Sri Lanka will continue lockdown style coronavirus restrictions till June 7, relaxing controls on May 25, 31 and June 4 to allow one individual from a house to walk to the nearest shop to buy foods and medicine.
Transport Minister Johnston Fernando said that on days that movements are relaxed people will be only allowed to buy food and medicines. “Don’t go in vehicles,” he told reporters on Monday (24), urging, “Walk to the nearest shop.”
Announcing the extended restrictions, Lt Gen Shavendra Silva, Head of the National Operations Centre for Prevention of COVID-19 Outbreak (NOCPCO), CDS & Commander of the Army said, the decision to extend the restrictions was taken at a meeting chaired by President Gotabaya Rajapaksa on the recommendation of health specialists.
He said the movement restrictions, relaxed at 4:00 Tuesday (25) will be re-imposed at 11:00 p.m. the same day and relaxed at 4:00 a.m. on May 31. It will be re-imposed at 11:00 on May 31, relaxed at 4:00 a.m. on June 4 and re-imposed at 11:00 p.m. the same day.
“On Friday (21) people may have bought goods only till the Tuesday. So that is why we are relaxing,” he said.
Delivery services will be allowed during the period of extended restrictions he said, urging persons who are selling goods on delivery to do so.”
He said export activities could be continued throughout the control period, but the Peliyagoda fish market will be closed on May 26, 27 and 29 for Vesak.
Tourism Minister Prasanna Ranatunga said groceries, pharmacies, bakeries, fish, meat and vegetable shops will be open. “When we close the country for many days there will be difficulties for daily wage earners,” he said, explaining that President Gotabaya Rajapaksa had asked for a framework to deal with the situation.
Emphasizing that only one person can go out from the house, and the ID card rule will not apply, Police Spokesman, Deputy Inspector General Ajith Rohana urged, Do not go in groups. You have to go alone,” and warned, “If you go in groups police will take action.”
Taxis and three wheelers are not expected to operate except for medical purposes, he said, adding, “If you have to go to hospital, you can use your own car or a taxi.”
Sri Lanka has seen a third wave of the novel coronavirus after the traditional New Year celebration in April. Daily confirmed cases have climbed to over nearly 3000 from below 200 before New Year and deaths rose from single digits to over 40.
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