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Wear facemasks for health benefits, says Health Ministry

17 Jun 2022

BY Buddhika Samaraweera Although wearing facemasks is no longer mandatory, the Ministry of Health has stated that if people continue to wear facemasks, it will bring about significant health benefits, such as the prevention of many respiratory diseases.  Speaking to The Morning, Health Ministry Communications Director, Public Health Services Deputy Director General, and Disaster Preparedness and Response Division Head Dr. Hemantha Herath said: “The Director General of Health Services (DGHS) Dr. Asela Gunawardena has stated that wearing a facemask is not mandatory. This does not however mean that people should not wear them. Wearing a facemask is beneficial for anyone who cares about their health.”  He noted that wearing facemasks has the potential to prevent many respiratory diseases. He also said that as part of the new normalisation which was brought about by the Covid-19 pandemic, the facemask could even become part of the clothing itself. Therefore, he said that anyone who wants to is free to wear a facemask, while anyone who feels that it is unnecessary is free to not wear it. “In the past, many people in Sri Lanka did not wear slippers and shoes, which caused various ailments. However with socio-economic development, it is almost impossible to find anyone who does not wear slippers and shoes now. In that case, wearing slippers and shoes is not something mandatory, but almost everyone wears them. The facemask may become such a feature as well.”  The Ministry announced last week that wearing facemasks will not be mandatory from 10 June. DGHS Dr. Gunawardena had stated that it is not mandatory to wear facemasks indoors and outdoors in order to avoid the Covid-19 pandemic, from 10 June.


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