Health DG to issue circulars to change current guidelines if necessary

12 February 2021 04:15 pm - 7 - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

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While saying that the Health Ministry has nothing much to do with regard to detection of new variant from several areas, Deputy Director General of Health Services Dr. Hemantha Herath said the Ministry was keen in taking necessary steps considering the situation to ensure people are safeguarded.

Speaking to the Daily Mirror, Dr. Herath said the Director General of Health Services would issue relevant circulars very soon to introduce changes to any of the current guideline if necessary.

However, he said all these issues arose due to unavoidable circumstances, where people were moving freely from place to place.

“One could argue that as to why the authorities didn’t impose any restrictions. If we imposed lockdown in certain areas, that would vehemently affect the daily income earners,” he said.

“We tried our best not to impose restrictions but continually requested people to strictly adhere to health guidelines. However, this didn’t happen. As a result, we are facing all these problems,” he stressed.

Moreover, Dr. Herath said there are no specific ways the Health Ministry could control the prevailing situation and added it is the people who should take responsibility to their hands and make sure the virus is not transmitted to one another.

Speaking further to the Daily Mirror, he said, the possibility that the new variant had entered the country through tourists was still unlikely and added further inquiry would be conducted to ascertain the concrete reason for it.

“Tourists were hardly seen in the areas from where the new variant was detected. Hence, one cannot say the virus was brought to Sri Lanka by tourists,” he underlined. (Sheain Fernandopulle)

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Comments - 7

Niroshan Friday, 12 February 2021 05:28 PM

His advises are good for nothing, if we have imposed a lockdown few months back for few weeks we should have reduced the spread now, no restrictions and cases are spiking up... How can the UK variant enter SL without any foreign contact? All countries has day earners and they do impose lockdowns when cases arise, without full lockdowns and border restrictions we can not control the spread. Only GOD can save SL from this spread.

Bushel Friday, 12 February 2021 05:38 PM

Concrete reason will never come oit for obvious reasons

Chris Friday, 12 February 2021 05:54 PM

So now it's all the fault of people. They locked down, didn't allow cremation, told us to wear masks, maintain social distancing, allowed ukrainians in and we followed everything they told us and now we are the scapegoat

Sam Silva Friday, 12 February 2021 06:17 PM

So it did not come from tourists, may from the Paliyagoda fish market. How ignorant someone could be.

Hassanda Friday, 12 February 2021 09:48 PM

All from Udayangana and Ukraine Y not accept the Mr DG Health

Ruwan Ramanayake Friday, 12 February 2021 10:03 PM

Daily wage earners are a result of continued failures of all successive governments.... if all these leaders worked for the country we would not have had such segment, at least not so significantly...

Demuni Uduwara Friday, 12 February 2021 10:59 PM

In comparison to other S/A countries our country is being reported higher contacts and last two weeks positivity rate had a rapid increase too. With the UK variant detection it has been endorsed. According to my knowledge, the Taskforce is lethargic. Following the guidelines is vital and advisable to wear 2 face masks.

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Health DG to issue circulars to change current guidelines if necessary

Comments - 7

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