Repeat lessons

Some lessons need to be repeated to be learned, but the problem with COVID-19 is that lessons not being learned the first-time round is the extremely high human and economic cost the public could end up paying. As the Government sticks to its decision not to impose strong restrictions, such as a limited lockdown, there is valid fear that Sri Lanka is not doing enough to stem a potential third wave. 

Health officials have been warning for weeks before the New Year that heightened travel could potentially fast track its spread. With crystal ball level effectiveness, what they have predicted has come to pass. Having failed to step up and impose travel and other controls in a timely manner, the Government now has little option but to close schools, reduce public services and impose isolation in specific areas. The closure of the Dambulla market sparked panic buying in many parts of the country and is a worrying sign of how quickly and easily supply chains could be disrupted when the virus is not dealt with as a serious threat. 

The horrific scenes of devastation in India alone is enough to push a sensible Government into action, but while multiple countries around the world are freezing all travel from India, the travel bubble proposal with Sri Lanka remains intact, which prompts the question of what role sense plays in the pandemic decision making process. It would seem from the comments made by multiple high-level officials on the COVID-19 Task Force, as well as President Gotabaya Rajapaksa, the focus is still on vaccines being the solution. However, a ton of experiences from around the world as well as piles of medical research has shown that the best way to stem virus spread is by imposing social distancing guidelines and limiting travel at critical points. 

Vaccines are immensely useful in limiting the virus, but that is only in the next stage of the response. Moreover, it is clear that Sri Lanka does not have access to sufficient amounts of vaccines immediately and will have to wait at least a week more before additional jabs are rolled out. Due to the Serum Institute struggling to meet domestic demand, the Government will have to seek alternative manufacturers to source more doses of AstraZeneca, and by all accounts does not have at hand enough vaccines to deliver the second dose to everyone who received the first jab. The Government is working to procure sufficient stocks and is awaiting World Health Organization (WHO) approval to use the Sinopharm vaccine. 

Understandably, it is a challenge to source sufficient vaccines and Sri Lanka is not alone in this, but it is precisely because of this battle that COVID-19 guidelines need to be carefully administered. The fact that the latest variant is airborne should be enough incentive to take tough steps, including making it mandatory for the private sector to also impose work-from-home (WFH) protocols. 

Ahead of elections one of the key campaign points of this administration was the supposed advantage of a “strong” Government, which they argued would result in the ability to take decisive action in times of crisis. Yet, reality appears to be the opposite with the Government turning a blind eye to VIP gatherings, only taking the least difficult steps and failing to present a unified policy front. The Government needs to step up now.