The Public Health Inspectors’ Union yesterday called for travel restrictions between districts during the festive season, warning of an increased spread of COVID-19 with the dawn of the New Year.

Voicing concerns about undetected patients living in society, PHI Union President Upul Rohana said a large number of patients are detected in the Colombo Municipal Council area and the Colombo District as a whole, as well as the Gampaha and Kalutara Districts.

“If movement is not restricted in high-risk areas and the Western Province to some extent, the disease may spread even further in the Western Province as well as the rest of the country with the dawn of the New Year,” Upul Rohana said.

He added that the Union was thus requesting the Government and officials to allow Christmas and New Year celebrations to take place within movement restricts and to immediately enforce movement restrictions between districts.

Upul Rohana explained that three groups have been identified with regard to the need for restrictions. The first group consists of persons from other areas employed in the Western Province who will be returning home.

The second group consists of persons from other areas who travel to the Western Province to obtain goods or services. According to Upul Rohana, it has been observed that this group fails to comply with quarantine regulations and safety guidelines.

The third group consists of persons from areas in the Western Province where movement restrictions were enforced who are travelling to other areas on holiday.

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