As of December 21, 2020, Sri Lanka has 37,621 confirmed COVID-19 cases and 176 related deaths. Following the country’s second case on March 11, the government implemented a mandatory 14-day quarantine for arrivals, a ban on international passenger flights and ships, nationwide social distancing and mask-wearing, and a nationwide nighttime curfew. These measures were enforced under penalty of fines and imprisonment for up to six months. The government also created a “COVID-19 Healthcare and Social Security Fund” and sought international assistance to address the economic impact of the pandemic. Though restrictions were gradually relaxed from May through October, a second wave arising from clusters in garment factories began in October and resulted in local curfews, suspensions of non-essential businesses and school closures in the capital Colombo and parts of the Western Province.
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