Sri Lanka extends Covid-19 lockdown till September 6 amid spike in death rate | Travel - Hindustan Times
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Sri Lanka extends Covid-19 lockdown till September 6 amid spike in death rate

PTI | | Posted by Zarafshan Shiraz, Colombo
Aug 27, 2021 04:21 PM IST

Sri Lanka, which has witnessed a series of lockdowns and curfews to contain the spread of Covid-19 in the country, has extended travel curbs till September 6 as deaths rise. The tourism sector, which generates a huge quantum of revenue for the island nation, has seen a drastic fall.

Sri Lanka on Friday extended its nation-wide lockdown till September 6, amidst a surge in the number of Covid-19 deaths and mounting pressure from medics and the Opposition to step up efforts to fight the raging third wave of coronavirus.

Workers carry a Covid-19 victim's body in a cardboard coffin for cremation at a cemetery, amid the coronavirus disease (Covid-19) pandemic, on the outskirts of Colombo, Sri Lanka(REUTERS/Dinuka Liyanawatte)
Workers carry a Covid-19 victim's body in a cardboard coffin for cremation at a cemetery, amid the coronavirus disease (Covid-19) pandemic, on the outskirts of Colombo, Sri Lanka(REUTERS/Dinuka Liyanawatte)

The government took the decision following a top-level meeting held on Friday. Sri Lankan President Gotabhaya Rajapaksa had ordered a 10-day lockdown on August 20.

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“The current curfew will continue till 4 am on Monday, September 6,” health minister Keheliya Rambukwella told reporters.

The government has noticed that people have not taken the curfew seriously, he said, advising that people should refrain from unnecessary travel and work from home while abiding by the curfew.

The calls for extension of the lockdown have come from the Opposition and the public health inspectors.

The health unions have complained that the ongoing lockdown in the form of quarantine curfew has been observed in a very relaxed manner with large traffic formations being seen in the cities.

The government says that the lockdowns would adversely impact the economy and has urged the public to get vaccinated.

Sri Lanka, which has witnessed a series of lockdowns and curfews to contain the spread of Covid-19 in the country, has been impacted in terms of its economy.

The tourism sector, which generates a huge quantum of revenue for the island nation, has seen a drastic fall.

The Friday’s announcement came after Sri Lanka recorded 209 deaths on Wednesday, the highest daily toll since the onset of the pandemic.

As of Thursday, Sri Lanka had recorded 8,157 deaths while the total number of infections stood at 412,370.

Over 7,500 deaths have been recorded in the ongoing third wave since April 15, the health ministry said, adding that as many as 1,172 deaths have come from August 21 until Thursday.

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This story has been published from a wire agency feed without modifications to the text. Only the headline has been changed.
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