COVID-19: Beyond the lockdown

It’s impossible for the whole world to fight a single virus with a common set of treatment options and still fail. We need to quickly adapt, borrow, innovate and use strategies that work around the world and at home. We must use our own inherent strengths in doing so – Pic by Shehan Gunasekara

At the time of composing this piece I have lost track of when the extended lockdown began. What I do recall is standing in line for groceries very early, leaving the store just after 6:30 a.m. and wondering what many would have left to buy at noon or by 2 p.m. when curfew came back into effect. 

People behaved and it was uncharitable to say people did not. It’s true there was a rush in congested settings such as in Pettah, Colombo central, etc.

From thereon whilst public information has come on line vigorously, fear, uncertainty and anxiety have crept into the minds of many.

The list of triggers is long. 

Preventive health interventions

I am used to looking for solutions as a professional working on beating odds due to disasters. So, I came across the anti-malaria drug option as a cure in Australia, a research paper on the same option in France, an Indian guideline to use for their frontline workers a GMOA memo, an epidemiology unit guidelines for its use, WHO announcement it was one of four being tested, and Trump’s own announcement. It’s been around since the late ’60s.  Why are we not using it? It’s given free by us normally. 

The Daily Mirror carried a story which said, “An Ayurvedic disinfectant used for prevention of coronavirus and another used in the treatment of the deadly disease manufactured according to an ancient Ayurvedic formula was being distributed from today by the North Central Province Ayurvedic Department. “The program was implemented under the supervision of the Ayurvedic practitioners in the Ayurvedic Hospital and medical centres on the instructions of the Commissioner of Ayurveda (NCP) Dr. Kumara Alwis. Dr. Alwis told the media that immunity to the disease could be promoted by taking the drug and the homes sterilised by burning the powder in a pan.” 

Why can we not replicate this in the districts where the risk is greatest?  It’s something close to our historical traditions and will contribute to giving confidence to households and citizens currently living in uncertainty and fear. 

Essential services and essential needs 

Apart from cash handouts to the poor and the response regime of the Government to known cases and the economic relief packages a plethora of essentials are an everyday need.  What’s seen after the last set of guidelines from the Task Force is the District Secretariat becoming the focal point for many approvals. 

Thinking aloud:

• Bakers in high risk areas and those under curfew are identified, supplied and willing manpower recognised and their movements facilitated. Local distribution passes facilitated. 
• Items such as vegetables, groceries, supplies, vendors, human resources identified and facilitated. 
• Passes for designated individuals and times to make essential purchases and banking determined. Hunting for food and essential needs is not a crime. 
• The immunity every one of us carries in our bodies must not be forgotten. It’s our first line of defence. It must be strengthened. 
• Be it Panadol and any other drug, access is unfettered within social distancing guidelines. People cannot wait for hours on end for essential drugs. 
• Every single employer, their plans to function offline, online sought, supported and monitored. 
• Retooling to work from home, flexi hours, working digitally identified, promoted, incentivised and supported. 
• Home based products and services promoted with guidelines to protect service providers and clients. 
• Every single child supported psychology and otherwise to focus on studies. 
• Ensuring every single senior citizen and those with underlying health issues identified, tracked and supported with their needs. 
• Community based volunteers, registered to abide by strict guidelines, deployed on roster to support essential services from shops to homes to care services. 
• Ensuring victims and families and neighbourhoods are not discriminated, isolated or subject to hate or hate speech.
• We must at all cost avoid a situation where distinctions and fault lines develop between the haves and have nots.   
• Sector-based revival options, plans, incentives discussed and mainstreamed.
• Assemble, incentivise and recognise the best Sri Lankan brains in and outside Sri Lanka who can help retool and reboot Sri Lanka out of COVID-19 and its effects. We will be dumb and daft if we don’t use the exceptional talents and knowledge we have around the world. 

It’s impossible for the whole world to fight a single virus with a common set of treatment options and still fail. We need to quickly adapt, borrow, innovate and use strategies that work around the world and at home. We must use our own inherent strengths in doing so.