The people have been advised to take extra precautions as the coronavirus detected recently has the ability to spread at a faster rate.
Health Ministry spokesman Dr. Jayaruwan Bandara told reporters yesterday that the virulence levels in the virus have been found to be high.
He said that further studies have confirmed that the virus detected this time around has the ability to spread at a faster rate.
“That is why we are urging the public to take precautions to protect themselves from the virus,” he said.
Bandara said that the public have been made aware on the steps to be taken to protect themselves from the virus.
He urged the public to empower themselves like they did when a ban on smoking in public places was introduced.
Dr. Jayaruwan Bandara said that parents and others often objected when individuals smoked in public, especially near schools.
He said that a similar culture must be introduced where the public raise strong objections if someone is not wearing a facemask in a public place.
“We may not be able to fully enforce social distancing in some places but if someone is seen not wearing a facemask we must object,” he said.
Dr. Jayaruwan Bandara also said that health guidelines introduced to prevent the spread of the virus will be made law.
