Inter-Province travel restrictions extended to 21st October

COLOMBO (News 1st); Sri Lanka has decided to extend the existing inter-province travel restrictions to 21st October.

President Gotabaya Rajapaksa has instructed the security forces to strictly enforce the inter-province travel restrictions during the extended weekend.

The decision was made at the COVID-19 Prevention Committee meeting held on Friday (15) morning.

Health Services Director General Dr. Asela Gunawardena said the vaccination of school children aged 18-19 years in the Colombo District commenced today.

Steps have been taken to vaccinate the children of this age group in other districts at schools and at regional health offices from the 21st.

According to the health recommendations, one dose will be given to the school children while two doses will be given to the children with congenital diseases.

After completing the vaccination of school children, arrangements have been made to administer a booster shot according to health recommendations.

‘Another 600,000 Pfizer vaccine doses are scheduled to arrive next Monday and the already ordered vaccines are being received uninterruptedly’, said Dr. Prasanna Gunasena, a member of the COVID Committee and the Chairman of the State Pharmaceuticals Corporation.

The President pointed out the need to study the measures that should be taken to further reduce the number of COVID-19 deaths and the need to further isolate the relevant areas where patients are being reported.

Dr. Anuruddha Padeniya informed the COVID Committee that the Home Quarantine process adopted by the health sector to control the spread of the COVID-19 virus has been highly commended by the World Health Organization.