All schools, preschools and piriven institutions in the Western and North Western Provinces will be closed this week due to the spread of COVID-19 in the provinces, the Government yesterday announced.

According to Education Minister Prof. G.L. Peiris, no decisions have yet been made to close schools in other areas of the island.

“If there are any changes, we will immediately announce them. We would like to tell parents and students that following safety guidelines in schools that will be operating is extremely important,” he went on to say.

Meanwhile, Chief Epidemiologist Dr. Sudath Samaraweera stated that schools must remain open if children are to receive an education without any interruptions.

“We have identified COVID-19 positive patients among students and teachers. In most such instances, the individual contracted the virus not within the school but from engaging in other activities,” he added.

997 persons test positive for COVID-19

Several areas in the island isolated