Fifteen police officers attached to several police stations in the Western province have tested positive for Covid-19 yesterday, health officials said.

Following the imposition of quarantine curfew in Panadura, Moratuwa and Homagama yesterday, people in those areas have been restricted from using train services operating on the Kelani Valley and coastal lines until further notice, the Sri Lanka Rail

Security, economic development and the technology sector cooperation will feature in bilateral discussions with U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo today, Foreign Relations Minister Dinesh Gunawardane said yesterday.

A total of 457 COVID-19 patients were reported yesterday from 11 districts bringing the total confirmed cases to 8,870, according to the National Operations Centre for the Prevention of COVID-19 said.

Priority should be given to conduct aggressive testing to identify COVID-19 positive persons while taking samples from individuals in the community, the Government Medical Officers’ Association (GMOA) said.

Presidential Commission probing Easter Sunday attacks today suspended its proceedings till Saturday (31) due to the prevailing COVID-19 situation in the country.

While claiming that there were hidden agendas behind the arrival of US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, the Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (NP)today urged United States not to interfere with the independence and sovereignty of Sri Lanka.

Quarantine curfew has been imposed in Panadura, Moratuwa and Homagama police areas with immediate effect until further notice, the National Operation Centre for Prevention of COVID-l9 Outbreak said.

It will take a certain period of time to bring down the number of Covid-19 positive cases to a low level, Chief Epidemiologist Dr. Sudath Samaraweera said.

US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo arrived in Sri Lanka on a two-day official visit a short while ago.

Essential food outlets and pharmacies in curfew imposed districts will be allowed to open two days a week from 8.00 am to 10.00 pm, Army Commander Shavendra Silva said.

A total of 293 COVID-19 patients were detected a short while ago surging the total positive cases of Peliyagoda-Minuwangoda cluster to 5,232 .

People should keep in mind to wear medical or surgical face masks only upto a maximum of four hours, Chief Nurse of the National Hospital Pushpa Ramyani Zoysa advised.

Attorney General Dappula De Livera today directed the Acting IGP to submit a report within two weeks, after investigating the COVID-19 spread from Brandix.

Two more COVID-19 deaths were reported in Sri Lanka increasing the death toll to 19, Ministry of Health said.

The number of patients recovered from COVID-19 had increased to 4,043 with 110 recoveries that reported today, the Health Ministry said.

Parliamentarian Rishad Bathiudeen, who is in remand prison, was further remanded till November 10 by the Colombo Fort magistrate’s Court today.

A 41-year-old male from Ja-Ela who was being treated at the Infectious Diseases Hospital (IDH) in Angoda died reporting the 17th COVID-19 death in Sri Lanka.

The decision to place first contacts of COVID-19 infected patients at homes was taken only after considering several practical issues and not due to any shortage in facilities at quarantine centres, Army Commander Shavendra Silva said.

At least nine officials of the Public Health Department of the Colombo Municipal Council who carried out PCR testing at the Peliyagoda Fish Market have also contracted Covid-19, a CMC official said.

Secretary of State Mike Pompeo is under investigation for potentially violating a federal law that forbids federal employees from engaging in political activity while on duty or while inside federal buildings over his address to the Republican conven

Hatton town has been declared as an isolated area after several Covid-19 patients were reported from the area.

The capacity in laboratories to conduct the Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) tests has almost exceeded and therefore, a system called Rapid Antigen Tests (RAT) would be introduced soon, Health Ministry Deputy Director General (Laboratory Services) Dr.

Dr. Asela Gunawardena has been appointed as the new Director General of Health Services, the Health Ministry said

The Government Medical Officers’ Association (GMOA) yesterday handed over a comprehensive COVID-19 exit strategy plan to President Gotabaya Rajapaksa, to control the current pandemic situation in the country.

The Epidemiology Unit of the Ministry of Health yesterday declared 27 Public Health Inspectors (PHI) Divisions as high-risk areas for Covid-19 in the country, the ministry said.

While accusing the US for the blatant violation of diplomatic protocols by way of interfering in Sri Lanka-China relations, the Chinese Embassy yesterday said that at a time Sri Lanka was facing the most severe challenge since the outbreak of COVID-1

The Cabinet which took stock of the COVID-19 situation in the country decided that the country would not be locked down, but routine economic activities would be carried out according to health guidelines, a source said yesterday.

A total of 261 fresh Covid-19 patients were reported rising the total positive cases detected so far today to 541, the Government Information Department said.

The Government Medical Officers’ Association (GMOA) said the death toll would increase during the next two or three months if the current COVID-19 pandemic situation is not controlled.