Ominous warning: Schools might be closed again

By Rathindra Kuruwita

A number of students and teachers in various parts of the country had tested COVID-19 positive and schools would have to be closed if the trend continued, Deputy Director General of Health Services Dr. Hemantha Herath told the media yesterday.

Dr. Herath made the statement when journalists asked him about reports that 148 children and 78 teachers in the Southern Province had tested COVID positive.

“This is not something unique to the South. There are many such cases around the country. If this trend continues, we will have to close schools again. We just started schools after months, so everyone has the responsibility to be careful,” he said.

Dr. Herath added that if the number of COVID cases increased, travel restrictions would also have to be imposed again. The number of daily COVID detections had now crossed the 700 mark, he said.

Meanwhile, Dr. Deepal Perera Consultant Paediatrician Lady Ridgeway Hospital for children also said that there was a spike in COVID cases among children. Given that most children had not been vaccinated, they had become more vulnerable to infection, he said.

“Most adults have now been vaccinated. So, now it’s the children who are most vulnerable to infection. We must all follow COVID guidelines,” he said.