All schools informed to strictly follow health guidelines amidst new variant: Minister

• Steps have been taken to declare teacher service as a closed service shortly

By Ajith Siriwardana and Yohan Perera   

All schools have been informed to act according to health guidelines issued by the Health Ministry to face the new Covid variant, Education Minister Dinesh Gunawardene said yesterday.  

He told Parliament that every step has been taken to ensure safety of children and teachers in schools and continuous focus on maintaining health guidelines in schools have been ensured.  

Responding to a question raised by SJB MP Ashok Abeysinghe, who said that Covid-19 was spreading among teachers and students in schools again, the Minister said everyone was aware that this was a dangerous situation and that every action has been taken to ensure safety of teachers and students.  

“We all are aware that this is a dangerous situation. 

•  North-Western Province Governor Raja Collure, who had obtained both doses of the Covid vaccine, succumbed to the virus. It means that we need to strictly adhere to health guidelines