The declaration of Monday as a special holiday to all has caused confusion among businesses, whilst experts knowledgeable on disaster management opine a total shutdown is more advisable if the Government is keen to step up action against the spread of COVID-19.

The Government via a Gazette on Saturday said 16 March has been declared a special holiday for the State and banking sector, and yesterday clarified that the mercantile sector has been requested to declare same. 

The special holiday was declared to support the COVID-19 quarantine process, and would be extended

Whilst acknowledging the seriousness of a wider spread of COVID-19, experts said that an emphatic message on the importance of mitigation will go the public and organisations if a temporary shutdown is imposed, as a few other countries have done as a precaution. 

Last week state schools were closed until 20 April, whilst over the weekend the Government directed the closure of cinemas, cancelation of large public gatherings etc. Arrival of visitors from over 15 countries has been banned apart from imposing visa restrictions.

Experts pointed out that clear assessment of the COVID-19 threat, properly identifying key benchmarks to determine the crisis levels, and listing countermeasures will help ease in a temporary shutdown rather than a haphazard approach or announcing measures on the go. A shutdown leading to a thorough preventive initiative will enable the restoration of confidence and safety fully for the public and tourists. 

However others said the world has never before experienced a pandemic such as COVID-19 and any response will be on a trial and error basis and improved after learnings. Other analysts cited Singapore and Hong Kong as good role models for Sri Lanka, as they have handled the COVID-19 crisis in a concerted and successful manner, inspired by key learnings from the SARS crisis in the last decade.

Coping with COVID-19 continues