Interprovincial travel banned, SLMA argues travel restrictions are insufficient

An interprovincial travel ban came into effect at midnight in order to contain the spread of COVID-19 but the Sri Lanka Medical Association (SLMA) called for quarantine curfew, arguing that travel restrictions were insufficient.

According to National Operations Centre for the Prevention of COVID-19 Outbreak (NOCPCO) Head Gen. Shavendra Silva, inter-provincial public transport will not operate as well.

However, the inter-provincial travel ban will not apply to healthcare, port, airport and other essential services, the agriculture industry and BOI-approved apparel factories.

Heads of public and private sector institutions have the authority to call in for duty any employees living in another province, but private sector businesses must only call in employees as per health guidelines.

The Sri Lanka Medical Association (SLMA), however, argues that travel restrictions are insufficient to contain the spread of COVID-19 as a lot of movement is seen despite restrictions.

“We have informed the President and the Government that our only alternative as a country is to impose strict movement restrictions, with curfew imposed for a few days, followed by lockdown, during which only essential services and vaccination takes place,” SLMA President Dr. Padma Gunaratne said at a press briefing yesterday.

If such measures are implemented for four weeks, 18,000 lives can be saved by January, she explained.

According to the SLMA President, over 85% of the beds and 90% of ICU beds in COVID-19 treatment centres are occupied. “The Health Ministry has informed that 50% of hospital facilities must be dedicated for COVID-19 patients,” Dr. Gunaratne said.

In addition to this, an increase can also be seen in the need for oxygen and the rate of COVID-19 positive samples from PCR and rapid antigen tests.

According to National Hospital of Sri Lanka (NHSL) physician Dr. Harsha Sathischandra, 600 COVID-19 patients are currently receiving treatment at the NHSL and, out of this, over 200 require oxygen.

He explained that the oxygen supply is sufficient for now but if patients continue to increase, then there might be shortage of oxygen as well as facilities like high dependency unit (HDU) beds.

The SLMA President cited two main reasons for the increase in COVID-19 detections; the spread of the Delta variant and insufficient immunisation coverage.

“Only 20% of the entire population is fully vaccinated and 80% of the community is at risk as they have either received only one dose or have not received a single dose,” Dr. Padma Gunaratne said.