As of Friday night, Sri Lanka announced that it is a 10-day lockdown in an effort to curb the spread of the coronavirus as surging infections and deaths overwhelm the island’s health system. On Wednesday, the island recorded its highest single-day death toll of 187 and 3,793 cases.
The Health Minister, Keheliya Rambukwella, tweeted, “Nationwide Lockdown in effect from 10pm today (20/08) to Monday (30/08). All essential services will function as normal.” President Gotabaya Rajapaska held a meeting with members of the presidential task force on coronavirus and was expected to address the nation on Friday evening.
Medical professionals, religious leaders, politicians and businessmen have called for an immediate nationwide lockdown in order to curb the spread of infections. Daily infections have more than doubled in a month to an average of 3,897. Hospitals in the country of 22 million people are overflowing with Covid-19 patients since the Delta variant surged throughout the population.
Many restrictions are already in place with schools, gyms and swimming pools closed and weddings and musical shows banned. Authorities already imposed a night curfew from Monday, restricting movement from 10pm until 4am every day.
