- Yet to identify source of origin
- PHIs note lapses in procedures
Covid-19 October 2020 District heat map (Source: hpb.health.gov.lk)[/caption]
Point at no one
While the origins of any of them are not yet determined, there have been many probabilities thrown around by subject matter experts. National Operation Centre for Prevention of Covid-19 Outbreak Head Lt. Gen. Shavendra Silva last week said the apparel worker would have contracted the virus from a person who had returned from overseas, who may or may not have undergone the quarantine protocols and may or may not have been detected possibly due being asymptomatic.
Meanwhile, Public Health Inspectors’ Union of Sri Lanka (PHIUSL) Secretary M. Balasuriya said that there were some lapses in the procedures which were not keenly followed by the public nor the authorities. He highlighted the incident that took place in Matara when the Russian flight crew members had not followed quarantine regulations.
“The delay in gazetting health regulations and then politicians and ministers not following the health guidelines gave a false sense of security to the public for over six months. Finally, the health guidelines were gazetted, but that too happened when the cluster that was created from the Divulapitiya (Minuwangoda) incident started to spread like wildfire,” Balasuriya noted.
During the period before the health guidelines were gazetted, the PHIs and even the Police had had to face somewhat of a challenge when they had to firmly remind people to follow health guidelines or ask them to self-isolate as instructed.
“What is the point if people are not following the basic guidelines of wearing the face mask when they are in public spaces? Some have the habit of wearing it on their chin, or have it in the pocket or bag but would not wear it. Since the latest resurgence of the virus and several clusters, we had to request the public transport providers, shop owners, and supermarkets to constantly remind them to wear the masks properly, or not to take in their vehicles or to their business premises,” Balasuriya added.
He noted that if people take necessary precautions and look out for their own safety, many can avoid contracting the virus. He also reiterated the importance of seeking medical attention if one shows symptoms or if they get to know they were in close contact with a person who had the virus.
Scientific data no match for military tactics
Sri Lanka Academy of Health Professionals (AHPSL) President Ravi Kumudesh stated that there is a lack of fact presentation or explanation about Covid-19 in a community medicine terminology to prove that the virus is not at a community spread level.
“We are also faced with doubts as to how state intelligence mechanisms and military tactics are used to define whether or not the virus has reached the level of cluster spread or community spread. However, since Sri Lanka still does not test for antibodies that are generated in a person who was infected and has recovered from Covid-19, it is not possible to obtain data on naturally cured infections,” Kumudesh elaborated.
Even using state intelligence services, patients can be tracked only by the data provided through PCR test reports. So even with such a tracking system, finding the origins of the disease or tracing the patient’s exposure history may turn up some cases to be negative and then there might be sporadic spread of the virus taking place in society.
Also, in preparing the public in accordance with the fundamental parameters of the World Health Organisation (WHO) for the control of Covid-19, we must be prepared for the “most dangerous conjecture”.
“By repeatedly stating that there is no community spread at present, there is a high probability that the situation will become extremely dangerous, with people turning their attention to the cluster of cases that some authorities continuously harp on and falling back to a relaxed safety policy based on their own general assumptions that is otherwise detrimental in taking some control of the spread of the disease,” Kumudesh opined.
This is the best course of action, both scientifically and practically, to treat as a community spread, especially since the general public does not make decisions based on intelligence information or tactics.
“About 80% of Covid-19 infections are considered to be asymptomatic or will naturally recover from the virus infection, which PCR tests would fail to identify. Thus, we may have unknowingly missed a significant amount of unrecognised patients in the community due to the fact that patients who may be randomly placed in the community are not subjected to antiretroviral as described above,” Kumudesh added.
Strict regulations in curfew areas
Police Media Spokesperson Deputy Inspector General (DIG) Ajith Rohana, when inquired about the action the Police took against those who violated quarantine curfew regulations, noted that a total of 691 persons were arrested for violating quarantine curfew regulations so far, while the number of vehicles taken into police custody is 92.
DIG Rohana further reiterated that vehicles passing through areas that have been subjected to quarantine curfew are not permitted to stop their vehicles, disembark, or pick up persons. So far, 12 such vehicles have been detained and the incidents will be dealt with under the quarantine law in the future.