Quarantine curfew till September 13 | Sunday Observer

Quarantine curfew till September 13

5 September, 2021

The Government has extended the quarantine curfew until 4 am on September 13, taking stock of the situation in the country.

The decision was taken at the meeting of the Special Committee on Covid-19 Control held online on Friday. President Gotabaya Rajapaksa headed the meeting. Provincial and Divisional Health Directors submitted facts and details on the measures taken to contain the virus.

The progress of the vaccination drive and future action was discussed at length. Special attention was paid to the need to vaccinate those in the 20-29 age group in the next two weeks. The President commended all stakeholders, including health and the security sectors, for their support in making the vaccination drive covering all districts for people over the age of 30, a success.

The President said that the Pfizer vaccine would be given to schoolchildren of the relevant age groups as soon as medical approval is received.

The vaccination is being carried out at 400-450 centres daily. The number of vaccines given to each centre is determined by the health sector.

However, the provincial health directors said that the attempt made by the media to generalise that the entire process of vaccination was irregular by highlighting incidents that took place at one or two centres, was regrettable. The President stressed the need to carry forward the economy by adapting to the new normal following the success of the vaccination drive.

The economy showed a negative impact due to the quarantine curfew which lasted for over three months last year. The President said that people should understand the reality that Sri Lanka had a small economy. All parties must take responsible decisions to move forward while protecting the economy.

Minister of Finance Basil Rajapaksa said that the continuous functioning of factories in the export sector was a great relief for the economy and this was due to the success of the vaccination program which was implemented amid the quarantine curfew.

Many countries are re-opening the tourism sector. The President said the industry has to achieve successful results by taking the correct decisions.

The President also instructed the Heads of the Health sector to expedite the issuance of health guidelines to promote tourism operations in line with the Covid eradication program.

Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa, Ministers Basil Rajapaksa, Keheliya Rambukwella, Dullas Alahapperuma, Pavithra Wanniarachchi, Johnston Fernando, Rohitha Abeygunawardena, Ramesh Pathirana, Namal Rajapaksa, Prasanna Ranatunga, State Ministers Sudarshini Fernandopulle, Sisira Jayakody, Channa Jayasumana, MP Madhura Withanage, Principal Advisor to the President Lalith Weeratunga, Health Secretary Major General (Dr) Sanjeewa Munasinghe, Director General of Health Services Dr. Asela Gunawardena, the Commanders of the Tri-Forces, the Inspector General of Police and the members of the Special Committee on Covid-19 Control and the Provincial Directors of Health Services also participated.

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