SUNDAY, APRIL 05, 2020 www.sundayobserver.lk Sri Lanka’S ENGLISH NEWSPAPER WITH THE LARGesT CIRCULATION Vol. 93 - No 14 GOVT MULLS RELAXING CURFEW COVID-19 IN CERTAIN AREAS Sri Lanka situation Coronavirus Cases The Government is consider- ing relaxing the curfew in districts No decision to declare a complete where covid 19 has had no effect, af- ter the April festive season. The pos- Confirmed Suspected lockdown – Defence Secretary and and sibility of relaxing the curfew in se- Defence Secretary Maj.Gen.(Retd) Kamal the Government so far. hospitalized 166 hospitalized lected areas was discussed at a high profile meeting of government offi- Gunaratne said considering the present “Curfew has been imposed to control the Deaths Recovered cials and law enforcement officers situation related to COVID-19 in the country, spread of the highly contagious COVID-19 virus. 129 273 headed by President Gotabaya Ra- the government had not taken any decision to Once the health and security forces with the japaksa yesterday following expert announce a complete lockdown during the next support of the public have been able to reduce advice that those areas had no major week. the risk of spreading COVID-19, we will be able to threat of spreading the virus. Commenting on some rumours going viral remove curfew gradually,” he said. It was highlighted at the meeting claiming that there would be a complete five-day Maj.Gen. Gunaratne said the public should that tracking of covid 19 patients and lockdown in the country, he said those rumours not be misled by such rumours and Police would their close associates have been suc- were spreading to create a fear psychosis among deal with rumormongers, who were creating cessful so far and the government is the public but no such decision had been taken by unnecessary panic among the people. expected to continue partial curfew Global situation and lockdown in certain areas for a Arambepola and President’s Secre- perts in the field of health, medicine, DIG Ajith Rohana last evening, further period of time. The officials tary Lalith Weeratunga. security and legal, and also based on denied a rumour spread on social Coronavirus Cases said they will continue to check on GMOA President Dr.Padeniya lessons learnt from countries which media that the Government was the infected and their associates briefed the steps taken by the Gov- have been successful in controlling planning an islandwide lockdown from time to time since it was the ernment so far to arrest the spread the deadly virus. The Government from April 10 to 17, as fake news and 1,169,323 method followed by countries that of the deadly virus within the coun- had also strictly adhered to the in- said the CID was investigating into were successful in overcoming the try and the measures required to be ternational guidelines issued by the the matter. Deaths Recovered effects of the global pandemic. continued for a further period to en- WHO. As at 6 pm yesterday, 162 COV- The meeting, held at the Presi- sure that covid 19 will be contained It was also revealed that Sri Lan- ID-19 confirmed cases were report- dential Secretariat was attended by successfully. ka had been able to keep it under ed since January 27, 132 patients are 62,730 241,770 the Defence Secretary Rtd Major Dr.Padeniya updated the declin- control due to the quick action by still in hospital and 25 patients had General Kamal Gunaratna, Army ing global situation re the pandemic the government from the very out- left hospitals after complete recov- Sources: www.worldometers.info | www.epid.gov.lk Commander Lieutenant Gen- at the meeting called to review the set, whereas many other developing ery. Sri Lanka recorded five COV- eral Shavendra Silva, Acting IGP progress of the ongoing local efforts. countries had devastating effects. ID-19 related deaths by last evening C.D.Wickramaratne, GMOA repre- The President had assured that However, it was cautioned that the while 273 people are under observa- Amidst COVID-19 threat sentatives, ICTA Chairman Jayantha any action to suppress the pandemic threat posed by this global pandem- tion. de Silva, former Governor Dr.Seetha will be taken after consulting the ex- ic on the country is not over yet. Military on high alert to maintain national security COVID-19 positive – Defence Secretary cases can increase By Shanika Sriyananda sures to contain the virus, has taken to 1,400 Says all intelligence steps to combat agencies are strength- drug traffick- - Dr. Anil Jasinge ened to prevent any se- ing, terrorism By Nadira Gunatilleke curity threat and extremism While the entire to maintain na- According to world is engulfed in the tional security, the mathematical COVID-19 fear, the Sri Defence Secre- modeling done Lankan Government, taking tary Maj.Gen. (Retd) by the Medical all possible precautionary mea- Kamal Gunaratne said. Faculty of the Co- lombo University, the total number of COVID-19 positive cas- es in Sri Lanka can reach 1,400 soon. The free health service is get- ting ready to accept this challenge, Health Services Director General Dr. Anil Jasing- he told the Sunday Observer. Today marks the beginning of the Holy Week for Christians as the faithful commemorate Palm According to Dr. Jasinghe, the same Sunday, Jesus Christ’s triumphant entry into Jerusalem. The Holy Week is the most solemn period for mathematical prediction stated that the Christians worldwide. However, the services this year will look different with ‘stay at home’ orders number of COVID-19 positive cases will imposed across nations due to the deadly Coronavirus pandemic. On Friday, Pope Francis delivered reach 137 by April 4 (yesterday) but the ac- a blessing to an empty St. Peter’s square in Vatican City while neighboring Italy struggled as one of tual number exceeded this predicted num- the worst affected countries by the global pandemic. (AFP) ber. The mathematical prediction also stat- ed that with a mild leakage (weaknesses) in the system the number will reach 163 by April 7. It showed that with a moder- People should follow Govt guidelines strictly ate leakage in the system the number will reach 340 by April 17. – Minister Ranatunga Dr. Jasinghe said the mathematical modeling was done two weeks ago by Prof. By Uditha Kumarasinghe need to continue the as the relevant officials Manoj Krishantha, Prof. in Community curfew for at least in charge do not fulfil Medicine, Colombo University and a Math- Minister of Industrial Export, another two weeks. their duties properly. ematician Dr. Nishantha Perera attached Investment Promotion and Civ- I think the Govern- However, if we prop- to the Medical Faculty of the Colombo il Aviation Prasanna Ranatunga ment would comply erly implement this University. The actual numbers could be yesterday requested the people with these guide- program, we would different from the predicted numbers, he to strictly follow the guidelines lines. Similarly, the be able to successful- said. Meanwhile, the Government Medical issued by the Government and Government has al- ly face the next two to Officers’ Association (GMOA) Secretary Dr. the health authorities to com- ready set up committees three weeks with mini- Haritha Aluthge said Sri Lanka is current- bat the spread of the coronavirus at district, divisional secre- mum shortcomings, he said. ly in stage 3a which is the stage of `Home pandemic as it is a serious threat tariat and village levels to provide The Minister said since the in- Clusters’ and all efforts should be made by faced by the entire population in drugs and essential commodities ception, President Gotabaya Raj- the Government and the Sri Lankan people the country irrespective of caste, to the people. apaksa and Prime Minister Mahin- to prevent it from reaching stage 3b (Small creed and other petty political dif- Minister Ranatunga said the da Rajapaksa briefed the Cabinet Group Clusters) and stage 4(Community ferences. program launched to provide fi- of Ministers on the situation that Transmission with inability to track down As the Government, we would nancial assistance to low income would have to be faced in the fu- origin, trace contacts, etc). like to stress that the protection of families and Samurdhi beneficia- ture due to the coronavirus pan- Dr. Aluthge pointed out that during lives of the people would entirely ry families has almost been com- demic. Therefore, decisions were recent meetings, it was revealed that the depend on their conduct. At pres- pleted. In addition, there are many taken to act accordingly. Although capacity available was to handle around ent, Sri Lanka and other countries people who are dependent on dai- certain sections with their ulteri- 2,000 COVID-19 patients but if tougher ac- across the globe are taking unprec- ly wages such as three wheel driv- or political motives criticized the tions are not taken on time the actual num- edented measures to reduce the ers, bus drivers and tour guides. ongoing program, today we have ber could reach around 3,000. people to people contact in a bid to Therefore, a program has been been able to maintain the coun- It is essential for at least 80 percent of contain the spread of coronavirus. launched to provide some finan- try’s situation at this level due to the total population to be indoors in their Therefore, if the people resort to cial assistance to them as well. the timely decision. That is why homes in order to prevent the situation irresponsible conduct without ad- The Special Presidential Task the WHO and even Sri Lankans reaching 3b and 4. Curfew should not be hering to the guidelines issued, we Force on Essential Services head- in foreign countries have com- lifted from time to time and serious health would all have to face serious re- ed by Basil Rajapaksa has imple- mended the moves taken by the hazards in hotspots such as economic cen- percussions, the Minister told the mented a successful program Government, the health authori- tres, markets, fisheries harbours and tea Sunday Observer yesterday.