Parents advised to avoid taking their children on trips before schools re-open
View(s):Parents of school going children are urged to refrain from going on trips and other unnecessary outings as there is a possible spread of COVID-19 in schools, a Health Ministry official said.
Despite inter-provincial travel restrictions there are families going on trips, playing on beaches in playgrounds without wearing masks and exposing children to the virus, the Health Ministry’s School Health Unit Consultant Community Physician Ayesha Lokubalasooriya said.
“Re-opening of schools is essential to the growth and development of children, especially primary classes. The Government took the decision to re-open schools considering this factor. Primary and secondary school children are not vaccinated, therefore it is the parents’ responsibility to keep children safe at home or else there will be a major outbreak of COVID-19 in schools,” she said.
More than 3000 primary schools with a student population of less than 200 were re-opened this week after a six month pandemic triggered closure.
“The re-opening of schools for other grades will depend on how successfully we control the spread of the virus among primary students,” she said.
Dr. Lokubalasuriya also advised parents to make sure their children have nutritious meals prior to the re-opening of schools.
(NF)