Sri Lanka closes fish market, expands curfew as COVID-19 outbreak grows
A Sri Lankan police officer stands guard as health officers collect swab samples from rail commuters to test for COVID-19 at a railway station in Colombo, Sri Lanka, Monday, Oct 12, 2020. (AP Photo/Eranga Jayawardena)
COLOMBO: Sri Lanka's main fish market was closed on Thursday (Oct 22) and a curfew widened as a COVID-19 outbreak grows.
The government imposed the curfew in parts of the capital and some areas outside Colombo after earlier isolating at least six villages in Western province where the new cluster was discovered early this month. Colombo is in Western province.
Health authorities also temporarily closed the island nation’s main fish market after 49 traders tested positive. Hundreds of other traders at the market on the outskirts of Colombo are being tested for the coronavirus.
By Thursday, 2,510 infections have been connected to the cluster first tied to a garment factory and which authorities identified as Sri Lanka's first community outbreak in two months.
Schools and key public offices have been closed, public gatherings banned and restrictions imposed on public transport.
READ:Â Sri Lanka orders closures to contain COVID-19
READ:Â COVID-19: Sri Lanka bans public gatherings amid sharp rise
Sri Lanka has reported a total of 5,811 confirmed cases with 13 deaths since March.
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