COLOMBO, May 23 (NNN-XINHUA) – Sri Lanka’s total deaths from COVID-19 reached 1,133 yesterday, after the country recorded its highest single-day death toll of 44 the previous day, the Health Ministry showed.
According to health officials, Sri Lanka witnessed a high number of deaths in recent weeks, due to a rapid spread of a new variant of the virus, which left hospitals and intensive care units filled to capacity.
The new variant has now become airborne, with health authorities urging people to remain indoors as much as possible and to wear masks.
As over 50,000 people have been infected within the past one month alone, Sri Lankan authorities on Friday imposed an island-wide travel restriction, similar to a curfew, to prevent a further spread of the virus.
Army Commander and Head of the National Operations Centre for the Prevention of COVID-19 Outbreak, General Shavendra Silva, said, only essential and medical workers, food trucks, pharmacies and food deliveries, would be able to operate. The travel restriction will be lifted on May 25, but will be imposed again at 11.00 pm.
Police said over 20,000 police officers had been deployed on the road during the travel restriction to ensure people remain indoors.
According to statistics, Sri Lanka has to date recorded 158,333 COVID-19 infected patients, since the first local patient was detected in Mar last year, while presently the active patient count is 32,973.– NNN-XINHUA
