Tuesday Dec 31, 2024
Tuesday Dec 31, 2024
Thursday, 19 August 2021 00:16 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}
The Health Ministry has issued fresh health guidelines that will be in effect until 31 August, tightening restrictions and limiting movement, among which is a daily quarantine curfew between 10 p.m. and 4 a.m. wherein all non-essential travel will not be permitted.
According to Director General of Health Services Dr. Asela Gunawardena, provincial borders will be open to health services, police and triforces, State sector officials on essential official visits, distributors of essential supplies, providers of essential services like utility services, for the death of an immediate family member, and transport of cargo and travel to and from ports of entry and exit.
The DReAM concept mentioned in the Health Ministry guidelines refers to practicing physical distancing, respiratory etiquette, aseptic procedures, and wearing a face mask.
As per the guidelines, only one person per household can leave the house. This does not apply to persons going out for purposes of work or to obtain health services.
Public transport, which will only operate within provincial limits, can carry passengers up to the seating capacity and will only be for essential services. Private taxi services can only take on the maximum seating capacity and must operate within provincial limits.
Essential services must be provided with the minimum number of staff. Both Government and private sector offices must operate with the minimum number of staff, but the head of the institution can call in employees from other provinces if required.
Industries like apparel, agriculture and fisheries can function under strict health guidelines.
Economic centres will be open for wholesale trade under strict health guidelines. Open markets and fairs can have 25% of the customer capacity under strict supervision of local authorities.
Meetings, conferences, seminars and brand launches will not be permitted.
A maximum of 10 customers will be permitted at grocery stores at a time. Supermarkets are permitted to operate with 25% customer capacity, allowing 1.5 square metres per customer. Financial institutions must operate with 10% of the customer capacity.
The maximum number of customers permitted should be displayed outside groceries, supermarkets and financial institutions.
Shopping malls can operate at 25% customer capacity and the maximum number of customers must be displayed outside the shopping mall. All measures must be taken to prevent the spread of COVID-19.
Clothing and textile shops can operate with strict adherence to health guidelines and agriculture-based outlets can operate with strong adherence to DReAM.
Tailors and dressmakers can operate under strict health guidelines and street and mobile vendors can operate with strict adherence to DReAM, under supervision of local authorities.
Filling stations and construction sites are permitted with strict adherence to DReAM.
Courts cannot exceed 25% capacity, including staff, and must take on cases on a staggered basis. However, members of the public or prisoners cannot be present in or in the immediate vicinity of the courts unless with special permission of the relevant judge.
Visitors will not be allowed in prisons.
Health sector institutions can function with the required number of staff but must adhere to relevant instructions.
Day care centres will be closed for two weeks but pre-schools, schools, higher education centres, universities, and tuition classes will be closed until further notice.
Weddings, parties, and gatherings will not be permitted, while funerals must take place within 24 hours with a maximum of 25 persons at any given time.
No collective activities or gatherings will be permitted at places of worship.
Boarding houses can remain at full capacity, but no new persons can be given accommodation.
Spas, gyms, indoor sports halls, children’s parks, carnivals, musical shows, beach parties, and swimming pools will be closed, and gatherings will not be allowed at walkways or beaches.
Restaurants can be open for dine-in customers but must be limited to 50% capacity and adherence to strict health guidelines, but delivery and takeaway services can be carried out with adherence to DReAM.
Hotels, rest houses, and guest houses can remain open with 25% capacity and under strict health guidelines.
