Sri Lanka was supposed to lift the ongoing quarantine curfew on September 13, but it was extended after a recommendation from health experts.
Sri Lankan authorities on Friday extended the nationwide quarantine curfew to September 21 aimed at preventing the further spread of COVID-19.
Health Minister Keheliya Rambuquela said the curfew would be lifted at 4 am on September 21 following a decision made by President Gotabaya Rajapaksa after a meeting with the Kovid-19 task force, Xinhua news agency reported.
Rambuquela said that the number of Covid-19 patients in the country has been steadily declining and officials are confident that Sri Lanka will once again reopen without any risk.
“Please follow the rules, use this time for vaccination, stay home and wear a mask,” the health minister said.
Army commander General Shavendra Silva said President Rajapaksa had instructed officials to submit a report on what kind of restrictions should be imposed if the quarantine curfew is lifted after September 21.
Sri Lanka was supposed to lift the ongoing quarantine curfew on September 13, but it was extended after a recommendation from health experts.
The country is facing a rapid spread of the delta variant with 58,656 active patients and 477,636 people having contracted Covid-19 since March last year. The death toll stood at 10,864.
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