Health officials to be further consulted By Sarah Hannan The Health Ministry is yet undecided on publishing the gazette on health guidelines to overcome Covid-19, despite demands from health sector stakeholders to issue the gazette. Since the work from home period ended on 11 May and lockdown regulations were fully relaxed on 11 June, the public has fully embraced the freedom of movement, with law enforcement and health service authorities facing difficulty in following protocol on when to advise and when to arrest people for non-adherence to health guidelines. The Morning contacted Ministry of Health, Nutrition, and Indigenous Medical Services Secretary Maj. Gen. Dr. S.H. Munasinghe to inquire whether the Ministry had decided as to when the gazette on health guidelines, which were set up to prevent Covid-19 from spreading once the country resumed its socioeconomic functions, will be published. He said: “A decision is yet to be made as to when the gazette will be published and I am unable to comment on it without consulting the other officials.” Furthermore, law enforcement authorities too seem to be of divided views on what guidelines need to be followed by the public under which social situation, with them penalising the public under the Quarantine Act for not wearing face masks. Health authorities and law enforcement authorities will receive legal powers to act against quarantine law violators only after issuing the gazette.