Director General of Health Services Dr. Asela Gunawardena says guidelines to reopen schools with classes up to Grade 5 and less than 200 children, has been handed over to the Secretary of the Ministry of Education.
Speaking to media, Dr. Gunawardena said the Ministry of Education will accordingly announce a decision pertaining to reopening schools in the near future.
Dr. Gunawardena said the Education Ministry requested guidelines to be issued in order to reopen schools for Grades 5 and below.
He said the decision on reopening schools will be reached by the Minister of Education and the Ministry Secretary.
The Director General stated that quarantine curfew could likely be lifted after the 1st of October adding that the decision in this regard will be reached by the Presidential Task Force on COVID-19 that convenes on Friday.
He noted that with or without complete vaccinations schools will have to reopen.
Dr. Gunawardena added if guidelines are not followed, the country will have to periodically open and close.
He noted that with vaccinations, the reopening of the country can be controlled accordingly.
