The Government has ramped up its anti-Coronavirus drive, with a plan to set up regional offices at divisional secretariat level to coordinate health measures and educate the public on preventing COVID-19. These offices will be manned by health officials and also a Police officer. This was part of a series of proposals outlined in a circular issued yesterday by Public Administration, Home Affairs and Provincial Councils and Local Government Ministry Secretary S. Hettiarachchi for State institutions, semi-Government institutions, the private sector and the public. The circular also detailed a list of measures needed to be taken to prevent the spread and achieve eradication COVID-19 from the country.
“All District Secretaries and Divisional Secretaries should set up special offices regionally to educate the people of COVID-19 prevention methods.
With the assistance of the Police station in the area, all OICs should assign a Police officer for each of these centres,” the Circular read.
The Circular noted that Grama Niladhari officers, family health workers, economic development officers and other ground level officers should take measures to educate the rural population on the proper health practices needed to prevent the Coronavirus from spreading and these regional offices should be notified if there are suspected cases in the respective areas.
The circular stated: “As a considerable number of COVID-19 Coronavirus patients have been found in the country, it is the responsibility of State institutions, semi-Government institutions, the private sector and the public to take measures to prevent the virus from spreading.
“Therefore, I appeal to all concerned to follow the guidelines listed below to prevent this situation aggravating into an epidemic.”
“Accordingly, all ministries, District Secretaries, Divisional Secretaries and Government Agents have been notified of these measures.”
“The Special Task Force to prevent the spread of COVID-19 has already been established at 1090, Sri Jayawardhanapura Mawatha, Rajagiriya under the leadership of Western Province Governor Consultant Dr. Seetha Arambepola. They can be contacted on Hotline 117 for information or complaints regarding the COVID-19 outbreak.”
The circular also noted that even if a holiday is declared (for social distancing or sanitizing purposes), all services including food, water, medicine, water, electricity, health services and international banking services should function as essential services.
He also urged the public not to be misled by false reports or rumours and rely exclusively on verified official news alerts for news related to the Coronavirus outbreak.
(Daily News)