Schools partially re-open in Sri Lanka as COVID-19 restrictions ease

An officer sprays disinfectants inside aclass room at a school as the Sri Lanka's government expects to re-open schoolsafter almost two months of lock down amid concerns about the spread ofcoronavirus disease (COVID-19), in Colombo, Sri Lanka June 22, 2020.[Photo/Agencies]

COLOMBO - Schoolsacross Sri Lanka were partially re-opened on Monday after being shut for nearlythree months, as the spread of COVID-19 has been put under control in theisland country, local media reported Tuesday.

According to theEducation Ministry, schools were re-opened for grades 13, 11 and 5, leading tonearly 800,000 students returning back to school across the country.

Strict healthguidelines were followed as students were subjected to temperature checks,frequent washing of hands and wearing face masks. Chairs and desks were keptone meter apart in each class room and students were informed to speak to eachother from a distance.

All arrangementswere made by the school management and staff as principals, teachers, andnonacademic staff were informed to report to work on June 29.

The EducationMinistry said that under the third phase, schools would re-open for grades 10and 12 students on July 20, and under the fourth stage from July 27, schoolswould re-open for the rest except for grades 1 and 2.

All sportsactivities and tests however have been canceled until further notice, theEducation Ministry said.

Sri Lanka has todate reported 2,078 positive COVID-19 patients but has seen an over 90 percentrecovery rate with 1,917 patients out of the total detected been successfullytreated and discharged.

Active patientsare now down to 161, official statistics from the Health Ministry showed.

Sri Lanka'scapital Colombo resumed economic operations at the end of May after being shutfor nearly two months to prevent a further spread of the virus, and since thenthe country has seen the gradual re-opening of several sectors.

However,authorities have urged people to abide by all health guidelines such as wearingmasks, maintaining social distancing and keeping hand hygiene.