Health Services Director General Dr. Anil Jasinghe said that the hotline has been established by the Ministry of Health as a measure to stop the spread of the coronavirus to doctors, nurses and other persons who unknowingly come into contact with individuals with minor symptoms.

Those with suspected symptoms of the COVID-19 could, therefore, get assistance by calling this number instead of travelling to a hospital.

The doctors consulting through the hotline will verify symptoms, and if necessary assist in the admission of the patient to a hospital and will also help dispatch an ambulance through the 1990 Suwasariya free ambulance service.

Services via the 1390 hotline will be provided in all three languages, Sinhala, Tamil and English, for the convenience of the public, he added.