No requirement to wear face masks in office premises: Health Secretary

The Health Ministry has turned down an attempt by the Western Province Chief Secretary’s office to promote wearing face masks in office  in view of a tendency of  a variant of the influenza and Covid virus developing throughout the island.

The Government Information Department today quoting Health Secretary Dr Anil Jasinghe said that there is no need to advise institutions in general to wear face masks in office premises.

The Department’s instructions came after the Health Promotion Bureau had warned that there is a tendency for a variant of the influenza and Covid virus to develop throughout the island.

Based on the advice, on June 2  a circular was issued under the signature of the Deputy Chief Secretary (Administration) of the Western Province, to all heads of institutions of the Western Provincial Council, instructing all staff to wear face masks while working in office premises and in all places where the public is present.

“Regarding the letter, the Secretary to the Ministry of Health and Mass Media, Specialist Dr. Anil Jasinghe, sent a letter to the Chief Secretary of the Western Province, requesting that the instructions issued in the relevant letter be reconsidered and stating that there is no need to generally instruct institutions to wear face masks in offices,’ the Information Department said.

“The letter from the Secretary to the Ministry of Health and Mass Media further clarified that after the COVID 19 global pandemic ended in mid-2023, COVID 19 has also been included in the category of other communicable diseases under the respiratory disease surveillance and control process. Therefore, it has been stated that with the increase in respiratory diseases such as influenza during the rainy season, there is a possibility of COVID 19 and that in general, the management and prevention of respiratory diseases is carried out according to general methods. Therefore, there is no need to consider the prevention of COVID 19 as a special risk situation at this time and that generally recommending such specific measures at this time may have adverse consequences.”, the Information Department said.

The Secretary to the Ministry of Health has stated that giving such recommendations to institutions will cause undue fear and disruption to daily activities, and therefore it would be better if such instructions were given only after consulting the Ministry of Health.

However, the Health Secretary has said there is no problem if someone wears a face mask voluntarily or on medical advice for personal protection.

The Secretary's letter further states that there is no need to restrict those with coughs and colds (such as influenza) from coming to work, and that it is important to promote good health habits, such as only those with such symptoms wearing face masks, to maintain personal hygiene and reduce the possibility of spreading the disease to others.