Further restrictions unlikely during festive season: Army Chief

Police urge cooperation from public to contain spread of virus

• Govt. thinking positively from the public's point of view

By Darshana Sanjeewa Balasuriya   

Considering the current situation in the country, the government does not intend to impose further isolation or quarantine curfew during the forthcoming festive season, Head of National Operations Centre for Prevention of COVID-19 Outbreak, Army Commander Lt. Gen. Shavendra Silva said.  The Commander said they were thinking positively from the public’s point of view.  Therefore, the Army Commander said that the people will fulfill their responsibilities properly and will contribute to the removal of the isolation or travel restrictions currently imposed, during the upcoming festive season.  He said that 51days of isolation imposed on six out of 13 housing complexes in the Colombo District had been lifted on Saturday.   

“As instructed by the President, one person in each of the isolated flats will be subject to a PCR test. If an infected person is detected from a particular house, the entire household will be subjected to PCR test,” he said   
Lt. Gen. Silva said through this method, PCR tests on individuals living in two-thirds of the total apartment would be performed and the number of individuals in the remaining seven flats, about 1/3rd of the total population remained to be tested.   

Further, he said that PCR tests would be carried out in the remaining flats within two days and thereby, the isolation of those housing complexes too would be lifted.   

He said the isolation order was still in place in the six apartment complexes and areas and steps would be taken to lift the isolation, based on the PCR test results.   

Meanwhile, Police Spokesman DIG Ajith Rohana also stated that a problematic situation had risen due to certain groups violating the quarantine rules during the Deepavali festival season.   

He said that the people should take action to prevent such a situation during the upcoming festive season.  The police further urged  the public to restrict travel from the Western Province to other provinces as much as possible.   

•  The Commander said that they were thinking positively from the public’s point of view
• Police further urged public to restrict travel from the Western Province