Science

#Sri Lanka widens curfew, bans gatherings as virus surges

#Sri Lanka widens curfew, bans gatherings as virus surges

Sri Lanka widens curfew, bans gatherings as virus surges
A Sri Lankan health worker sprays disinfectants as people wait to give swab samples to test for COVID-19 near a mobile testing vehicle outside a hospital in Minuwangoda, Sri Lanka, Tuesday, Oct. 6, 2020. (AP Photo/Eranga Jayawardena)

Authorities in Sri Lanka on Wednesday widened a curfew and warned of legal action against those evading treatment for COVID-19 after reporting an escalating cluster centered around a garment factory in the capital’s suburbs.

The number of confirmed cases has risen to 830 while more than 1,500 people have been asked to quarantine at their homes, health authorities said.

The Indian Ocean island nation had just reported its first community infection in two months on Sunday. The majority of the infected people are co-workers of the first patient, who was diagnosed at a hospital at the weekend and is from the densely populated Western province that includes the capital, Colombo.

Hundreds of people—both factory workers and residents—waited in lines Tuesday at makeshift medical centers to be tested for the coronavirus in the small town of Minuwangoda, about 50 kilometers (30 miles) north of Colombo, where the factory is located.

Some who had tested positive were refusing to go to state-run treatment centers even after the government provided them with transport, Health Minister Pavithra Wanniarachchi said.

A statement from Wanniarachchi warned that legal action will be taken under quarantine regulations against those who evade treatment. Violators of the law could face a fine and imprisonment up to three months.

Sri Lanka widens curfew, bans gatherings as virus surges
Sri Lankans wait to give swab samples to test for COVID-19 near a mobile testing vehicle outside a hospital in Minuwangoda, Sri Lanka, Tuesday, Oct. 6, 2020. (AP Photo/Eranga Jayawardena)

Separately, the health ministry ordered a halt to public gatherings such as exhibitions, parties, conferences, indoor or outdoor events, carnivals, musical shows and processions.

And police have widened the curfew in key suburbs of Colombo where many of the patients live. Previously, the government had closed schools, universities and imposed restrictions on public transport.

Chief epidemiologist Dr. Sudath Samaraweera said the new cluster poses a greater risk of spreading the virus in the broader society compared to Sri Lanka’s previous clusters.

The government had long touted it had prevented community spread of the virus in Sri Lanka because all previously known cases were connected to 31 clusters and of them, only two remain active.

Samaraweera said the risk is high with the new cluster as workers used to work very closely and also go home every day and mingle with others in the society. “Therefore, if people do not support us, we will find it difficult to control this.”

  • Sri Lanka widens curfew, bans gatherings as virus surges
    A Sri Lankan man rides a bicycle amid curfew as others wait to give swab samples to test for COVID-19 outside a hospital in Minuwangoda, Sri Lanka, Tuesday, Oct. 6, 2020. (AP Photo/Eranga Jayawardena)
  • Sri Lanka widens curfew, bans gatherings as virus surges
    Sri Lankans health workers prepare to take swab samples of people to test for COVID-19 near a mobile testing vehicle outside a hospital in Minuwangoda, Sri Lanka, Tuesday, Oct. 6, 2020. (AP Photo/Eranga Jayawardena)
  • Sri Lanka widens curfew, bans gatherings as virus surges
    A Sri Lankan health worker sprays disinfectants as people wait to give swab samples to test for COVID-19 near a mobile testing vehicle outside a hospital in Minuwangoda, Sri Lanka, Tuesday, Oct. 6, 2020. (AP Photo/Eranga Jayawardena)
  • Sri Lanka widens curfew, bans gatherings as virus surges
    Sri Lankan health workers prepare to collect swab samples from people to test for COVID-19 outside a hospital in Minuwangoda, Sri Lanka, Tuesday, Oct. 6, 2020. (AP Photo/Eranga Jayawardena)
  • Sri Lanka widens curfew, bans gatherings as virus surges
    Sri Lankans wait to give swab samples to test for COVID-19 outside a hospital in Minuwangoda, Sri Lanka, Tuesday, Oct. 6, 2020. (AP Photo/Eranga Jayawardena)
  • Sri Lanka widens curfew, bans gatherings as virus surges
    Sri Lankans wait to give swab samples to test for COVID-19 outside a hospital as a health official walks past in Minuwangoda, Sri Lanka, Tuesday, Oct. 6, 2020. (AP Photo/Eranga Jayawardena)

Some of the workers come from different parts of the country. Local media reported police and health workers were visiting the homes of factory workers on leave and were testing them as well.

The country has reported 3,733 patients with 13 deaths. Of the total patients, 3,266 have recovered.


Sri Lanka extends virus lockdown


© 2020 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission.

Citation:
Sri Lanka widens curfew, bans gatherings as virus surges (2020, October 7)
retrieved 7 October 2020
from https://medicalxpress.com/news/2020-10-sri-lanka-widens-curfew-virus.html

This document is subject to copyright. Apart from any fair dealing for the purpose of private study or research, no
part may be reproduced without the written permission. The content is provided for information purposes only.

For forums sites go to Forum.BuradaBiliyorum.Com

If you want to read more Like this articles, you can visit our Science category.

Source

Related Articles

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Back to top button
Close

Please allow ads on our site

Please consider supporting us by disabling your ad blocker!