From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
COVID-19 pandemic in Sri Lanka | |
|---|---|
| Disease | COVID-19 (coronavirus) |
| Virus strain | SARS-CoV-2 |
| Location | Sri Lanka |
| First outbreak | Wuhan, Hubei, China |
| Index case | Colombo |
| Date | 27 January 2020 – ongoing (8 months, 2 weeks and 1 day) |
| Confirmed cases |  4,628 |
| Active cases | 1,308 |
| Recovered |  3,307 |
Deaths | 13 |
| Fatality rate |  0.28% |
Government website | |
| epid.gov.lk https://hpb.health.gov.lk | |
The COVID-19 pandemic in Sri Lanka is part of the worldwide pandemic of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). The first case of the virus was confirmed in Sri Lanka on 27 January 2020, after a 44-year-old Chinese woman from Hubei Province in China was admitted to the National Institute of Infection Diseases.
As of 11 October 2020, a total of 4,628 confirmed cases, 3,307 recoveries, and 13 deaths have been reported in the country.On 3 March 2020, the first reported case involving a Sri Lankan origin outside Sri Lanka was reported in Italy. As of 23 March, forty-five quarantine centers have been built in the country by the Sri Lanka Army as a preventive measure to tackle the coronavirus pandemic.Nearly 3,500 people have been under quarantine in 45 quarantine centers which also include 31 foreigners from 14 countries.
As of 25 March 2020, Sri Lankan authorities have tracked down over 14,000 people who had contacted the identified patients and had ordered self-quarantine for such people.
As of 16 April 2020, Sri Lanka has been named as 16th high risk country prone to virus pandemic.Meanwhile, Sri Lanka has been ranked 9th best country in the world for its successful immediate response on tackling the virus.
Sri Lankan government announced that it lifted the curfew on 11 May which was in effect for over two months which brings an end to 52 day lockdown style curfew and meaning that public can start going to workplace by maintaining social distancing but the public gatherings, festivals and celebrations are banned.Sri Lankan government also approved the permission to open salons, beauty parlours and barber shops on 11 May but has strictly banned shaving.The government urged the barbers to maintain precautionary health measures while cutting hair.
2020 Sri Lankan parliamentary election being held on 5 August 2020 amid pandemic with vote turnout initially had a slow start mainly due to the virus fears and despite the slow start, the voting numbers started to pick up gradually in late morning.The authorities also made wearing face masks as compulsory requirement along with the use of hand sanitizers in the polling station for the voters when entering as well as when leaving the polling station.
