By: ChandrashekarRana
SRI LANKAN authorities have extended the ongoing travel restrictions till June 7, heeding health experts’ strident calls for continued efforts to contain the coronavirus.
The curbs will be eased between 4 am and 11 pm on May 31 and June 4 to enable people to buy essentials, highways minister Johnston Fernando announced in Colombo on Tuesday (25). The ongoing restrictions were to end on Friday (28).
While people involved in essential services will be permitted to travel, only person in a family will be allowed to come out to buy essential items during relaxation hours.
Army Commander General Shavendra Silva said banks and delivery services will continue to operate during the restrictions. Vehicular movements would be restricted even when the curbs are eased, he said.
People cautiously came out of their homes on Tuesday as the ongoing restrictions were eased for 19 hours to make essential purchases.
The extension of the restrictions came following warnings from health experts that the island nation would have to scramble for medical oxygen in case of a sudden spike in new infections.
They said the country’s health infrastructure cannot cope with a sudden surge in demand for oxygen supply with a limited production capacity.
According to Worldometer, Sri Lanka reported 2,971 fresh cases of coronavirus infection on Monday (25) taking the cumulative number to 167,172. So far 1,243 people died of the disease including the death toll of 33 reported in the past 24 hours.
