By Rathindra Kuruwita

Time had come for schools to reopen with the right protocols, President of Sri Lanka Medical Association (SLMA) Dr. Padma Gunaratne said yesterday addressing the media.

She said that about 80-90% of Sri Lankans were aware of how COVID-19 spread and what needed to be done to minimise the risk of infection.

“This was not there before. Because people now know better, we can start the slow journey towards normalcy. This has to be done carefully,” she said.

National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) Consultant Psychiatrist Dr. Sajeewana Amarasinghe said yesterday that it was highly unlikely that COVID-19 caused serious neurological damage.

However, some people might develop signs of depression and they could seek assistance by calling the hotlines 247 and 1926, he said.

1926 was the national mental health helpline operated by NIMH and it was manned 24 hours a day, Dr. Amarasinghe said.

“After suffering from COVID-19, some people develop physical issues that can last a few weeks or even months. They feel winded and have some trouble breathing. Then they worry that they have got COVID again and that makes matters worse,” he said.

Dr. Amarasinghe added that some develop signs of depression such as increased anger, loss of energy, loss of appetite and the tendency to sleep more.

These can be signs of depression. Sometimes other family members think these are signs of laziness and neglect, he said.

“If you think you might have developed some mental issues because of COVID, please call hotlines 247 and 1926 and get help,” he said.