The statement requests workplaces to make hand washing facilities available and easily accessible to employees and customers to wash their hands with soap and water. It also requests to promote good hand hygiene among employees and customers at the work places. The Ministry also directs the work places to promote regular and thorough hand washing at workplace by communicating the need to wash hands through posters, via intranet and, dissemination of information at meetings. It also requested to promote good respiratory hygiene in the workplaces.

The statement furthered that, “Hand hygiene includes either cleaning hands with soap and water or with an alcohol-based hand rub, Keep sanitizing hand rub dispensers in prominent and accessible places in the workplace and ensure they are regularly refilled. Because washing hands with soap and water or an alcohol-based hand rub kills the virus on hands and prevents the spread of COVID-19. Keep surgical masks and / or paper tissues at your workplace for use by those who develop a runny nose or cough at work, along with closed bins for their hygienic disposal, because good respiratory hygiene, including covering a cough or sneeze with a tissue or flexed elbow, prevents the spread of COVID-19.”

“All sections of society should engage with the public health authorities to take action to prevent and contain the spread of the virus. It is crucial to remain vigilant as Sri Lanka has recently reported a case of COVID 19. Businesses and employers in particular have a major role to play to keep workplaces safe if we are to stop the spread of this disease as workplaces are frequented by a large number of people.” the statement furthered.

 M.A.A.