• Interprovince ban to remain till health gives green light 
• Offices, companies told to operate on minimum staff  
• Weddings to be allowed with minimum guests
• restaurants with minimum guests TOO are likely to continue 

By JAMILA HUSAIN  

President Gotabaya Rajapaksa yesterday instructed officials to lift the ongoing nationwide quarantine curfew on October 1, as health authorities noted a considerable decrease in the number of COVID-19 patients and deaths.   

The curfew was imposed on August 20, when the Delta variant struck across the country, infecting thousands of people and raising the death toll to beyond 12,000. 

As the President was informed that the situation was easing and the virus load in patients had decreased, he instructed the country to re-open from Friday but on strict health guidelines.  Army Commander General Shavendra Silva told Daily Mirror that health officials would release a set of tough guidelines today which would come into effect from Friday when the curfew is lifted.  

Deputy Director-General of Health Services, Dr. Hemantha Herath told Daily Mirror the guidelines would be strictly imposed from Friday in order to avoid another COVID wave which could be expected if people chose to ignore the dangers.  

As a result previous health guidelines such as the interprovince travel ban, ban on public gatherings, offices and institutions operating on minimum staff and restaurants with minimum guests are likely to continue and will be announced later today.  

Further, health authorities are likely to give the green light for weddings but on a minimum guest capacity. The numbers will be finalized soon as doctors have already held discussions with weddings decorators and planners on how to proceed forward.  

• President was informed that the situation was easing and the virus load in patients had decreased

The 20-29 age groups interest for vaccines in Colombo still very low 

Health officials yesterday said that while those within the 20-29 age group from the provinces were now showing some interest in the COVID-19 vaccines, the percentage who had shown up for the vaccines in Colombo was still very low. An on-ground programme was underway to encourage this age group in Colombo to take the vaccines and the Daily Mirror learns that a social media campaign with influencers encouraging the vaccination drive will soon kick-off.