Health Promotion Bureau issues COVID-19 Warning

COLOMBO (News 1st): "On behalf of the Ministry of Health, we appeal to all Sri Lankans to do your part to prevent the spread of the COVID-19 virus again in the country by through proper adherence to the respective health guidelines in the coming period," noted a COVID-19 Warning issued by the Health Promotion Bureau (HPB) at Sri Lanka's Ministry of Health on Tuesday evening (Apr. 20) The COVID-19 warning issued by the HPB emphasized, "With the increase in the incidence of COVID-19 positive cases in Sri Lanka, a rapid escalation in the rate of patients admitted to the Intensive Care Units (ICU) has been observed. Moreover, several new variants of the COVID-19 virus that were not present in the country before have been detected in the past few days. Whilst the scientific data pertaining to the situation is being studied and reviewed, we as the general public should remain vigilant and be on the lookout with regard to this evolving situation." Whilst referring to how the spread of COVID-19 could be contained by following the respective preventive guidelines as in the past, the Health Promotion Bureau has attributed the vulnerable situation at present to the gradual decline with regard to the compliance with the COVID-19 health guidelines during the festive season. "It would be timely to recall our responsibility with regard to disease prevention as a society so that resorting to complex actions such as the imposition of strict laws and restrictions on movement could be avoided," the HPB's warning further pointed out. According to the Health Promotion Bureau, these preventative measures include: washing hands, wearing face masks, maintaining social distances, avoiding crowded places, and restricting movement if symptoms such as cough, sore throat, or common cold persists.