President Gotabaya Rajapaksa, after consulting health authorities and the tri force commanders on Thursday night has decided to impose a nationwide curfew on Sunday to avoid the unnecessary congregation of people amidst a sudden spike in the number of COVID-19 patients.

While till Thursday morning, authorities were thinking of not continuing with the curfew as no transmission of the virus had been detected among the public since April 30, the President was recommended by health authorities that it would be advisable to continue with the Sunday curfew as even the naval cluster was still active.

A source from the President's Office told Daily Mirror that they were awaiting the official confirmation to issue a release.

A government source said that the Sunday curfew is likely to continue for coming weeks till such time the naval cluster is deactivated and the virus spread within the quarantine centers is under control.

Meanwhile on other days of the week, the curfew will continue to be imposed from 10 pm to 4 am daily. (JAMILA HUSAIN)