The Public Health Inspectors' Union (PHIU) today announced that people must be encouraged to follow the previously recommended health guidelines to prevent the spreading of various types of viruses, including the COVID-19 virus, at ground level.

Currently, a significant number of suspicious COVID-19-positive cases have been reported from many parts of the island, and the Government Information Department is issuing a daily announcement on the number of COVID-19 cases/deaths.

He also said a certain number of suspicious COVID deaths are being reported from the field. 

"However, when considering the current situation, we can see that several cases of virus and suspicious COVID infections are spreading rapidly on ground-level.

"Accordingly, the cases are spreading at epidemic levels in schools and institutions.

"Therefore, people should work responsibly while following COVID-19 health recommendations such as wearing masks, washing hands, avoiding public gatherings etc.

No ground-level procedures have been conducted to determine whether the spread of the current virus would reach an epidemic situation and become a huge disaster. Only the deaths and the admissions will certify whether they were COVID-infected or not.

"Therefore, it is compulsory for people to strictly follow the previously recommended health guidelines to prevent the spread of COVID-19 virus," the PHI's union warned. (Chaturanga Pradeep Samarawickrama)