COVID-19: another countrywide lockdown
The government led by Gotabaya Rajapaksa made the decision after a written request from Buddhist monks. The lockdown will last at least until the end of the month. In the past week over 4,000 new cases have been reported per day. To reduce the pressure on hospitals, people are asked to send text messages describing their symptoms. Ships with liquid oxygen are coming from India.
Colombo (AsiaNews) – After some hesitation, the Sri Lankan government has decided to impose a new lockdown on the entire country. The measure will take effect tonight and last until the end of the month.
“I sincerely request all #lka citizens to adhere to the law and #StayHome,” tweeted Health Minister Keheliya Rambukwella.
President Gotabaya Rajapaksa will address the nation tonight, while the COVID-19 task force has already met to decide on the further steps.
The government's decision followed a request by the Buddhist leaders in Malwathu and Asgiri who wrote to President Rajapaksa, asking for a week-long lockdown to counter rising number of infections.
Last week, more than 4,000 new cases were reported per day with 186 people dying yesterday alone.
“We can see that the entire country is facing a catastrophe due to the spread of the coronavirus disease,” the Ven. Thibbatuwawe Sri Siddhartha Sumangalabhidhana Thero and Ven. Warakagoda Dhammasiddhi Sri Pagnananda Thero said in their letter.
Although most Sri Lankans are in self-isolation at the request of public health authorities, the pressure on hospitals is increasing due to the spread of variants.
To deal with the situation, the Commander of the Sri Lankan army, General Shavendra Silva, asked people not to go to hospitals, but to rely on a system of registration by text messages.
Citizens are invited to describe their symptoms in their message; depending on the severity of their condition, they will be divided in categories A, B or C.
Since yesterday morning, the National Operations Centre for Prevention of COVID-19 Outbreak has received more than 3,000 such text messages.
General Shiva said that about 43 per cent of the population was vaccinated with one or two doses.
So far, Sri Lanka has reported a total 373,165 cases. Some 318,714 people have recovered while 47,847 cases remain active. The death toll now stands at 6,790.
Meanwhile, an Indian vessel and a Sri Lankan navy ship left India (one from the port of Visakhapatnam, the other from Chennai) with 140 tonnes of liquid oxygen.
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04/12/2007
10/04/2020 12:21
