Deputy Director General (Public Health), Dr. Hemantha Herath said that all schools from tomorrow (23) should always follow the health guidelines to reduce the risk of Covid-19.
He told the media in Colombo yesterday that these were the same guidelines issued by the health authorities after the outbreak of the first Covid-19 wave.
However, health guidelines should be followed more strictly now than before to prevent the spread of Covid-19, he said.
He said at times, some schools cannot assure that children always follow health guidelines, but they should try to do so because following health guidelines strictly would assure protection against Covid-19 and failing to do so would increase the risk of getting infected with the virus.
Dr. Herath said that the basic health guidelines are maintaining at least one and a half metres distance between each person always, wearing a face mask covering the nose and mouth, washing hands with soap and water often or using an alcohol-based hand sanitiser.
Schoolchildren should be trained to follow respiratory etiquette (cough/sneeze into your elbow) and hand washing from early childhood, which are good health habits that need to be followed throughout their lives, he added.