All essential services kept on alert as COVID-19 patients continue to rise

All essential services have been kept on alert in case the COVID-19 pandemic worsens further and authorities decide to go in for further isolations or even a partial lockdown this week, the Daily Mirror learns.

All essential services have been told to be on the alert with minimum staff. An essential services task force meeting got underway at Temple Trees yesterday, headed by Basil Rajapaksa where the existing health crisis was discussed at length.

The number of COVID-19 infected patients is on a staggering rise with over 2000 patients reported yesterday, the largest single-day patient count reported since the first local patient was reported in March last year.

Health authorities have said that every district in the country has now reported COVID-19 patients and have warned that if strict health guidelines are not followed, the numbers may rise further burdening the country's health services.

Authorities have already urged Muslim citizens who will be celebrating the Eid Ul Fitr this week to celebrate staying at home while Vesak celebrations have also been cancelled. (Jamila Husain)