COVID-19 precautions

Monday, 5 October 2020 01:07 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

Startling news was received by the public on an otherwise calm Sunday of a fresh COVID-19 positive case. The fact that a worker in an apparel factory has tested positive swept across the concerned minds of the masses and underscores how very vulnerable Sri Lanka remains to a resurgence of COVID-19 and why precautions need to be constantly reinforced.

When it comes to COVID-19 Sri Lankans have been fortunate and they know it. Irrespective of political and other divides the one thing that most people can agree on are the measures launched by the Government to contain COVID-19. Unfortunately, its members have not always followed the rules that were put in place for the country’s benefit. Even after the parliamentary election was wrapped up there was a gentle letting down of the guard and focus shifted from fighting the pandemic to restarting the economy.

Even members of parliament have been lax in wearing masks and following other social distancing measures. The private sector quickly rolled back work from home opportunities and pushed employees to return to work, and with it the mind-numbing traffic jams. The chance to change the way Sri Lankans approached their work and their work-life balance was quickly lost.

The shift to restarting the economy is understandable given the steep slowdown and potential COVID-19 impact in the second quarter of 2020, even though official numbers of how Sri Lanka fared have not been released yet. Day labourers and other vulnerable groups as well as the economy as a whole could not have survived much longer under a curfew. However, over the last couple of months vigilance has become the exception and many gave into the all too human trait of complacency.

Many stakeholders have warned of the serious and perhaps even irreversible impact COVID-19 could have on the economy if Sri Lanka is forced to endure a second wave. With the country’s debt repayment already at a challenging point for 2021 and the recent ratings downgrade by Moody’s throwing a pall over the economy, the importance of preventing a second wave can hardly be overstated. Therefore it is essential that the public function under an abundance of caution. In a matter of hours, schools, businesses such as tuition classes, universities and other aspects of daily life changed on Sunday. This is the power of this pandemic. It sweeps all before it and humans are forced to make tough choices.

As always it is positive that the Government released the information quickly and is seeking to reassure an anxious public that efforts are being made to bring the situation under control. The private sector should reinstate their work from home options and encourage as little travel within and between provinces as possible, especially for employees who may have no other option than to use public transport. For now the best course of action is to let the authorities do their work and support them by wearing masks, limiting movement to the absolutely essential and sticking to other social distancing measures like life depends on them… because it does.