New health guidelines tonight: Restrictions on gatherings including weddings

The Ministry of Health will issue the new health guidelines to be followed after the lifting of the islandwide quarantine curfew tomorrow (01 October).

According to Health Ministry sources, the new guidelines will be issued tonight and will be effective for a period of two weeks. 

Mass gatherings, weddings, and religious gatherings have reportedly been prohibited under the new guidelines. 

The Health Ministry sources said that, however, wedding registrations will be permitted during this period.

With regard to public transportation, trains will not be in operation, while buses will only operate within provinces. 

Restrictions that were imposed on restaurants earlier are likely to remain unchanged and continue as it is. 

The Health Ministry sources said the authorities have permitted only limited activities under the new health guidelines that will come into effect from tomorrow. 

Meanwhile, the Government Medical Officers Association (GMOA) has held discussions with representatives of the Small and Medium Scale Marriage Service Providers Association on recommencing wedding ceremonies.

The discussion that was held yesterday (29) on the request of the Small and Medium Scale Marriage Service Providers Association, concluded with both parties agreeing to a number of decisions. 

Following are a few matters agreed to by the two Associations:

  • Recommence wedding ceremonies under the guest capacity outlined in the health guidelines. 
  • Host wedding ceremonies without the use of alcohol. 
  • Permitting only fully vaccinated individuals to attend weddings. 
  • Strictly adhere to health guidelines during the function.

The GMOA pointed out that a key objective of the authorities was to encourage youth between the ages of 20-30 to obtain the Covid vaccine.

It added that the decisions agreed to with the Small and Medium Scale Marriage Service Providers Association will be submitted to the Presidential Task Force on COVID-19.

The Small and Medium Scale Marriage Service Providers Association has been severely affected due to the prohibition of wedding ceremonies as a result of the recent rapid spread of the coronavirus in Sri Lanka. (NewsWire)

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