Time to act

Saturday, 14 March 2020 00:00 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

The growing threat of COVID-19 should bring together Sri Lankans as never before. The virus is a collective threat and Sri Lankans are well used to coming together when the going gets tough. Well, the going could get tougher.

There is no doubt that Sri Lanka’s healthcare system is doing all it can to prevent the spread of COVID-19 and ensure that the two people who are already infected get the best possible care as well as providing care to as many as 29 other patients under observation. Quarantine facilities have been provided and could be expanded in the coming days. All flights from Iran, Italy and South Korea have been stopped and arrivals from all other countries have been requested to self-quarantine for two weeks.

Schools, pre-schools, Sunday schools and all others have been closed and the public have been encouraged to take precautions to protect themselves. In this instance it is important for everyone to follow the mitigation measures laid out by medical professionals and refrain from indulging in blind panic. Shops and supermarkets around the country displayed bare shelves on Thursday after panic buying swept through, with well-to-do people buying stacks of groceries and sacks of rice.

This is irresponsible and insensitive as there are plenty of day labourers and others who do not have the capacity to hoard on a large scale. People who have little choice but to buy goods on a daily basis could struggle in this situation, as will vulnerable groups such as the elderly and immuno-compromised people. It is therefore essential to provide additional services to places such as elders’ homes or nursing facilities and help families who may have older parents to look after as well. Even something as simple as a grocery run would be massively helpful in this situation. This is also why many have suggested that if the panic buying continues supermarkets establish a quota of goods that can be purchased by each person.

One major worry about Sri Lanka’s healthcare system is capacity, especially in the case of many people needing emergency or intensive care. Intensive Care Units (ICUs) in Sri Lanka have limited space and critical medical equipment such as ventilators may be required if more patients are diagnosed. Testing facilities may also need to be scaled up to meet a possible spike in demand. Given the situation it could be practical for the Health Ministry to consider coordination with private hospitals and healthcare facilities so that testing and other services could be broadened. Of course for this situation to work it is imperative that the private hospitals are not allowed to feed into the problem and price controls may be needed.

Social media has circulated reports that a private hospital is charging Rs. 17,000 for each COVID-19 test. This is precisely the sort of initiative that should be nipped in the bud. It is easy to move panicked people towards taking such tests and make a quick buck but it will not help larger containment measures. It is positive that the Government has kept communication channels open, both to reassure the public and also combat misinformation. At this time the public has to collectively commit to understanding the situation based on facts and react calmly as the situation warrants.