COVID-19 travel controls to be re-imposed from May 21
As 19 deaths, 2456 cases confirmed
COLOMBO – Sri Lanka will re-impose coronavirus travel restrictions from May 21 to 28, with a 19-hour break on May 25, the authorities said on Monday (17) as a three-day near lockdown was lifted at 4:00 a.m. and the country recorded 19 Covid-related deaths while confirming 2456 new cases.
The Department of Government Information in a statement quoting Army Commander Gen Chief Shavendra Silva, who is also quoting heading the country’s anti-COVID-19 task force, said travel restrictions will be enforced with effect from 11.00 p.m. Friday (21) to 4.00 a.m. on Tuesday (25), and re-imposed at 11.00 p.m. the same day. No reason was given for the extended travel restrictions, though there is a two-day public holiday next week on account of Vesak celebrations marking the birth, death and enlightenment of The Buddha.
There is already an inter-district travel restriction followed every day from 11:00 p.m. to 4:00 a.m. till May 31.
Sri Lanka imposed a movement restriction from 11:00 p.m. Thursday (13) to 4:00 a.m. Monday (17). Even though the move was not pronounced as a curfew, it followed the same protocol only allowing essential services to operate.
The Ministry of Health last week introduced revised guidelines on restrictions for permitted activities that allow only one person per family to leave the house on a given day based on the last digit of the National Identity Card (NIC) number. Exceptions have been provided for purposes of work and for obtaining health services.
The guidelines, which are effective until May 31, also specifies public transportation only with seated passengers and limits passengers in private taxi services, including three-wheelers, to a maximum of two. Other types of vehicles are permitted to transport seated passengers only.
Meanwhile, the Director General of Health Services on Monday confirmed 19 Covid-related deaths taking the number of fatality tally to 981.
The number of new COVID-19 confirmations continued to top the 2000 mark with 2456 cases confirmed on Monday taking the virus count to 145,202, with 25,573 being treated at various designated hospitals and hotels across the country.
-ENCL/economynext.com