2,869 new cases and 14 deaths during the curfew week in Sri Lanka

Sri Lanka recorded a steady increase of COVID-19 cases and deaths within the past week. 2,869 cases were reported during the period between November 2 and 8 while 14 deaths occurred during this period. 

Meanwhile, 3,382 persons were reported recovered during the period between November 2 and 8. 

The entire Western Province was under curfew during this period. The vast majority of these cases and all the deaths were reported from the Western Province. 

However, during the week's period immediately before that (October 26 to November 1) 3,188 cases were reported. Recoveries during the same period were 1,102. Five deaths occurred during this period.

Sri Lanka planning to remove curfew

Sri Lanka government sources say that plans are underway to remove the curfew imposed in parts of the island and to reopen the country with strict quarantine regulations.

Meanwhile, government sources said that President Gotabaya Rajapaksa had been against the quarantine curfews imposed in parts of the country. However, the curfew had been approved by him because of the pressure mainly from the health officials. Sources say that the health officials are still pressurising the President to impose a countrywide curfew. The powerful Government Medical Officers' Association (GMOA) that represents the needs of the doctors is also pressurising the government to impose a curfew.

President Gotabaya Rajapaksa tweeted, "Everyone including President, ministers, health staff and people must understand the status of economy of the people who lives on daily wages and businesses. We cannot afford to close down the country anticipating a cure for COVID-19 would be discovered."

At the meeting of the Task for Prevention of COVID-19 yesterday President Gotabaya Rajapaksa spoke against curfews and his speech was released to media. The President highlighted that the public and private sector employees who had regular salaries could bear the brunt of the lockdowns until a cure is discovered but the daily wage earners were in extreme difficulty.

Sources say that the government is now considering the regulations to be imposed while the country will remain open. 

Panic buying, escaping in Western Province of Sri Lanka ahead of weekend curfew

Panic buying reported in most parts of the Western Province of Sri Lanka which are not under curfew, ahead of the long weekend curfew imposed since midnight today. Friday 30th October 2020 is a full moon day and a public, bank and mercantile holiday in Sri Lanka.

Large numbers of people gathered in crowded shops including liquor shops with minimal health measures to buy commodities in fear of extension of curfew beyond the weekend. 

Meanwhile, vehicles belonged to the people who were fleeing out of Colombo district and the Western Province on expressways queued about one kilometre long from Kottawa interchange. Police warned people escaping the curfew but the majority of them had reasons because they temporarily lived in the Western Province for work.

Similar queues of exiting vehicles were reported from Pinnaduwa interchange in Galle in the Southern Province also. The Province is not under curfew.

The curfew that will be imposed since midnight today, 29th October 2020, in the Western Province will be lifted at 5 a.m. on Monday. However, the government announced the curfew would not be lifted in police areas which are already under quarantine curfew. 

More areas locked down, more COVID-19 deaths and more cases diagnosed in Sri Lanka

Homagama, Moratuwa, Panadura North and Panadura South have been included anew to the police areas of Sri Lanka which are under quarantine curfew. Accordingly, over 60 police areas are under quarantine curfew now. 

The government isolated Hatton town also yesterday due to spread of COVID-19. 

The number of COVID-19 patients diagnosed yesterday was 457 and three deaths occurred during the day. 

Meanwhile, the media reported yesterday the President had told at the cabinet meeting that the country would not be shut down due to COVID-19 spread. Instead, travel restrictions would be imposed in areas the disease is spread more. 

Meanwhile, the people in locked down and isolated areas lament about the loss of livelihoods while the people in other areas complain about paralysed transport services.  

The government says the shops would be open for two days in locked-down areas for people to buy commodities. The public employees in those areas are considered working while the government says that the agreement with the private sector to pay salaries of the workers has been extended by the government until December.