Don’t leave Western Province, Police warn

The Police were keeping an eye on those who were attempting to leave the Western Province after it was announced that curfew would be imposed on the province from today, police spokesman, DIG Ajith Rohana told the media yesterday.

DIG Rohana said that they had received information that some people were planning to go on trips over the long weekend, and they would be severely dealt with.

“We will not allow anyone to leave the provincial boundaries unless it is really essential. We have put up road blocks at the exits to the Western Province, he said.

The police spokesman said that they had imposed a curfew in the Western Province because they wanted to prevent COVID-19 positive cases from leaving the province. Western Province had so far been the hub of infections, he said.

A quarantine curfew was imposed in the entire Western Province from midnight today. It would be in force until 5 am on Monday. However, the quarantine curfew currently imposed in certain parts of the Western Province would not be lifted on Monday.

The government said that grocery stores and pharmacies in areas where curfew was currently imposed should remain open from 8 am to 10 pm yesterday. After Monday, grocery stores and pharmacies in areas where curfew was imposed should be open two days a week, so that people could buy essentials.

However, only one member from a family should leave home and everyone should adhere to health guidelines, Rohana said.