People Urged to Restrict their Movements Further - Head of NOCPCO

The routine Media interaction at the National Operation Centre for Prevention of COVID-19 Outbreak (NOCPCO) at Rajagiriya took place this morning (10), headed by Mrs Pavithra Wanniarachchi, Hon Minister of Health, Lieutenant General Shavendra Silva, Head of the (NOCPCO), Chief of Defence Staff and Commander of the Army and Medical Specialist Dr Anil Jasinghe, Director General of Health Services and Attorney-at Law Ajith Rohana, Deputy Inspector General of Police.

“During yesterday (9) a total of 10 heroic Naval troops and 2 others were confirmed positive to COVID-19. Those two were associates of infected sailors who were undergoing Quarantine process at Quarantine Centres (QCs). Accordingly, a total of 578 infected COVID-19 patients are receiving treatment in hospitals. By now 259 infected people have fully recovered and left hospitals,” Lieutenant General Shavendra Silva said.

"A total of 274 more individuals were flown to Sri Lanka early this morning (10) from Melbourne by a Sri Lankan Flight and they all were taken to tri service-managed Quarantine Centres (QCs) for quarantine process. Likewise, another group of individuals from Malaysia are expected to land here this evening (10).

All state and private sector services across all the districts in the country are scheduled to commence tomorrow under a newly-devised programme on a methodical basis with restrictions. By this evening (10), the Presidential Secretariat will announce curfew hours that will come into effect from tomorrow onwards. Earlier, instructions had been issued with details to all heads of state and private sector agencies in relation to conduct of affairs in their respective places of work with 1/3 of their staff. Accordingly, it is expected that the commencement of work would follow those instructions. Likewise, health guidelines, social distancing and transport programme, etc have been already issued. Similar to what was introduced earlier in districts where curfew hours were in force, people who need to go out for personal needs should follow guidelines given to suit the national identity card number. The lifted curfew hours in other districts will continue as usual.

Since the public transport has been made available only to the persons on essential services, the general public should desist from using such transport facilities.

In the past few weeks, all Sri Lankans made a dedicated contribution to preventive work of the COVID-19 virus. At the same time it is the paramount duty of every citizen to keep off from infecting COVID-19 virus and extend their maximum support to the Police, armed forces and Civil Security Department personnel for them to conduct their duties in the best interests of the public”, Lieutenant General Shavendra Silva urged.

Source: www.army.lk