Thursday Nov 14, 2024
Thursday Nov 14, 2024
Monday, 16 March 2020 00:24 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}
As the patient number reached 18 yesterday, the Government declared today a public, mercantile and bank holiday to aid in countering COVID-19 measures, with public institutions, transportation and the private sector advised to use the opportunity to disinfect their facilities and put in place universal countermeasures.
Official records showed 133 suspected to have COVID-19, including 9 foreigners, have been hospitalised. Public health authorities with the aid of the Police are monitoring 4405 individuals who are self-quarantined, 1120 of whom are Chinese nationals.
Cabinet Spokesman Bandula Gunawardana, addressing a press conference yesterday, requested all business owners, industry, public institutions, and departments responsible for public transportation to use the day to disinfect their facilities, workplaces, and fleets which are frequented by the masses.,
Public Health Director General Dr. Anil Jasinghe and Immigration and Emigration Department Director General Sarath Rupasinghe joined Gunawardana at the press conference, which was held at the Government Information Department.
“We are trying to see if we can minimise the public congregating, we have notified universities, cinema halls, public offices, and public transport to be disinfected. The idea of giving a holiday on Monday was to give authorities an opportunity to disinfect public places.” he said.
“Shops, businesses and trading will continue as normal, and retail stores will be open to the public to purchase goods,” he said, stressing that there was no shortage of food and other essential items. Gunawardana said that traders and importers had assured the Government that essential food items were in stock, and there is no shortage in the country. He invited the press to join him in visiting trading centres and main retailers this week, to inquire into the matter.
The moves come in the wake of a number of religious leaders requesting the faithful to engage in prayer from home for the time being. The Government also requested the public to not hold gatherings nor undertake pilgrimages or trips for the next two weeks. The Leaders of the South Asian Association for Regional Corporation (SAARC) held a video conference last evening, to discuss a regional response to COVID-19. The Government also initiated a COVID-19 hotline (117), closed the Jaffna International Airport, and even cancelled driving license tests to encourage social distancing.
Addressing the press, Dr. Anil Jasinghe confirmed that the patients were doing well. “We are confident that all of them will recover, however, one individual has some other medical complications which are a concern,” he said.
“One of the problems we have are the people who were directed to stay in self-quarantine, those who arrived in the Island between 1 and 10 March,” he opined, pointing out that the enforcement of the self-quarantine was largely dependent on the returnees themselves. He pointed out that the returnees had a responsibility to quarantine themselves.
“We have details of those who have arrived, at the airport they were notified to enter into self-quarantine for 14 days. We have launched a combined effort with Public Health Inspectors (PHIs) and Police to monitor if the process is taking place,” he said.
“Quarantine laws will be strictly implemented; we have no intention to treat people as criminals. However, we have to enforce steps that will prevent the virus from spreading.”
“IDH has adequate facilities to treat the infected patients. However, we are taking measures to expand critical care facilities (ICU) in the hospital. IDH has a capacity limit; if it is reached we have made arrangements to equip other hospitals with similar facilities,” Dr Jasinghe told the Daily FT. The Health Ministry has also ordered additional Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) to replenish their stocks, he said.
Immigration and Emigration Department Director General Sarath Rupasinghe requested the public not to gather unnecessarily at the department’s offices in Battaramulla. He also requested Sri Lankan expatriates to delay returning to Sri Lanka if possible, and seek treatment in the countries they are in, if the circumstances permit.
“The spread of fake news and misinformation is problematic, and we request the public not to aid in the spread of fear and fake news,” Gunawardana added, pointing out that such tainted information causes panic, which hinders medical and social countermeasures against the COVID-19 virus. “The law enforcement authorities will identify and charge those who engage in this practice,” he said.
The Government Information Department requested the press and broadcast outlets to use verified information in their reporting.
