By Chaturanga Samarawickrama  

The Government Medical Officers’ Association (GMOA) yesterday advised the public to continue with the practice of wearing face masks further, considering the deterioration of the health system and the unstable situation in the country.  

Wearing of face masks and checking body temperature when entering premises in public has been relaxed with effect from Monday (18) by the health authorities.  

“When asked by community health doctors, they pointed out that the decision to relax the wearing of face masks was taken following a technical decision made by a special committee of community health specialists, virologists, and epidemiologists by following another guidance study in the world that is currently in practice, GMOA Secretary Dr. Shenal Fernando said.  
However, the GMOA advised the public to continue with the basic health measures that was in practice during the COVID-19 pandemic. With the said health practices, there was a decrease in the number of patients hospitalized with diseases related to respiratory system, Dr. Fernando said.  

The health sector in the country is severely affected by the fuel and medicine crisis. To some extent, we should be able to manage with medicines in hand until the situation is controlled at least to some extent, he said.  

Even though wearing face masks is not compulsory from Monday, people should keep in mind to follow the basic health guidelines when participating in protests and other group activities, he said.  

Therefore, the GMOA requested that people should continue wearing face masks to minimize respiratory diseases.