Employees should not kiss, hug or eat together in small enclosed areas tomorrow, Monday when they start work for the New Year. They should strictly follow all health guidelines issued by the Government and the Health Ministry to prevent the spread of Covid-19, Deputy Director General Health Services, Dr. Hemantha Herath said.
He told a media briefing at the Health Promotion Bureau in Colombo on Friday, that employees usually kiss and hug to wish one another and eat kiribath and other food to celebrate the commencement of work for the New Year. But they should not kiss and hug each other. They can wish according to the traditional Sri Lankan way without kissing and hugging.
Dr. Herath said that the employees should not gather in small rooms to eat kiribath and other food.
They should not remove their masks, sit together and eat. All institutions should select a place with adequate space and organise the event according to health guidelines. No institution should let all the employees gather at same time in an enclosed area and have food.
It is important to educate the employees about Covid-19 prevention through a lecture or something like that on the first working day of the New Year.
“We should be focused on preventing Covid-19 and not on Omicron or Delta. No matter which variant comes, Covid-19 cannot defeat health guidelines. Following all health guidelines, all the time, is the best weapon against Covid-19. It is the responsibility of people and employers not to let Covid-19 spread in the New Year,” he added.