COLOMBO –The main opposition Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB) has called on the general public to stay indoors and avoid travel, as the COVID-19 situation in the country worsened, with rising deaths and hospitals reaching ‘tipping point’.
The call comes amidst repeated appeals by medical bodies, medical experts, and opposition politicians for a lockdown, as hospitals have exhausted capacity and staff is unable to fully care for patients.
“If the government does not impose travel restrictions as it did in May 2021, as a solution to this rapidly spreading Covid-catastrophe, people should make self-imposed travel restrictions for their own safety and precautions,” opposition legislator Eran Wickremeratne said.
The Director-General of Health Services confirmed 167 Covid-related deaths on Monday (16), the highest so far, taking Sri Lanka’s fatality count to 6263.
Wickremeratne said anecdotal reports from relatives of patients indicated that hospital staff is not available to fully care for patients as numbers increase.
Sri Lanka is now encouraging home care for patients with mild symptoms in order to free hospital beds for the more serious patients.
A 10:00 p.m. 4:00 a.m. quarantine curfew imposed by the government to limit movements went into effect Monday.
Meanwhile, in a related development, the Department Of Muslim Religious and Cultural Affairs announced that the Wakfs Board of Sri Lanka had decided to stop all congressional prayers and activities including five-time Jamath prayers, though individual prayers will be permitted, with a maximum of 25 persons allowed into a given mosque at a given time.
The Department said the Wakfs Board has also decided to suspend Jummah and Janaza Prayers, Quraan and Nikah Majlis, and all other congregational activities in all mosques until further notice.
-ENCL