COVID-19 prevention measures in SL likely to extend

Stringent measures taken against the coronavirus pandemic in Sri Lanka is likely to continue until after the Sinhala and Tamil New Year which falls on April 14, with constant evaluation of the situation to continue with the support of medical, security and legal expertise, the Presidents Media Division (PMD) said.

Colombo, April 6 Stringent measures taken against the coronavirus pandemic in Sri Lanka is likely to continue until after the Sinhala and Tamil New Year which falls on April 14, with constant evaluation of the situation to continue with the support of medical, security and legal expertise, the Presidents Media Division (PMD) said.

Headed by President Gotabaya Rajapaksa, a discussion took place on Saturday at the Presidential Secretariat to review the progress of the COVID-19 prevention program, The Daily Financial times said in a report on monday.

During the discussion it was noted that the government's timely actions from when this virus first entered the country had helped keep the situation under control.

"At the same time, it was observed that except for the few districts identified as high risk zones where the most number of COVID-19 patients were found, the spread of the virus at present does not pose a threat to other districts.

"Therefore, there is a possibility that the current restrictions imposed on these districts could be lifted by the end of the Sinhala New Year season," the PMD statement said.

Apart from COVID-19 positive patients, those suspected to have contracted the virus and those who had been in close association with these two groups will also be regularly and repeatedly tested.

As of Monday, Sri Lanka has reported 176 coronavirus cases with five deaths.

The government had imposed an island-wide curfew on March 20 in an effort to stop the spread of the disease.

( With inputs from IANS )