GMOA calls for ‘quarantine curfew’

The GMOA has called for a countrywide ‘quarantine curfew’ to bring the raging Covid-19 pandemic under control.

The GMOA yesterday released a copy of a letter it addressed to President Gotabaya Rajapaksa:

 “First and foremost, as Government Medical Officers’ Association (GMOA) we would like to appreciate the leadership offered by your Excellency in mitigating the current COVID19 pandemic within our country.

GMOA as a responsible organization, has continuously rendered our fullest support for authorities in controlling the pandemic situation in Sri Lanka.

We firmly believe that, following key areas are to be closely evaluated, in order to ensure a sustainable control of the pandemic.

1. Disease surveillance with properly executed testing strategy

2. Risk communication using real time data.

3. Movement restrictions

In this background, as GMOA, we welcome the recent decisions of Your Excellency for strict movement restrictions, including that of limitation of Inter Provincial movements, as requested by us during the meeting with Your Excellency on 10.05.2021.

Further, after carefully analyzing the available data and past experiences regarding the public behaviour during long weekends, we would like to suggest strict movement restrictions by way of an All Island “quarantine curfew” to achieve 80% – 90% physical distancing in order to ensure optimal control of the pandemic during the upcoming long weekend.

We firmly believe that early responses to the above suggestions will be helpful in preventing predicted disaster situations within the country. “