Health Services head issues fresh guidelines on COVID-19 coverage

• Requests to refrain from showing bodies, cremation of victims
• To desist from showing family members
• To respect privacy of patients, those in quarantine centres and officials

Health Services Director General Dr. Anil Jasinghe yesterday issued fresh guidelines to the media on covering of funerals of those who succumb to COVID-19 as well as those suspected of being infected with the disease.

The Director General of Health Services (DGHS) requested media organisations to desist from showing the transportation of bodies, cremations of COVID-19 victims and also family members.

He also requested not to show persons who are suspected to be infected with the coronavirus and them being transported in ambulances to hospitals etc.  The DGHS added that persons in quarantine centres as well as officials too should not be filmed or photographed without permission and their privacy respected. He requested media organisations to inform provincial correspondents about these guidelines as well.