Sri Lankans have been barely able to spend three months without travel restrictions or without worrying about the possibility of another Covid-19 wave like before. Although there was a certain sense of safety after the third wave was brought under control, now, there are warning signs of the emergence of another wave that we cannot ignore.
Covid-19-related statistics during the past few weeks have been alarming, as they continue to show a significant and steady rise in the number of daily Covid-19 cases. According to the Health Promotion Bureau’s reports, from mid-January to date, within just two weeks, the number of daily cases has almost doubled from 594 cases on 13 January to 927 cases on 27 January, and Sri Lanka is very likely to pass the mark of 1,000 daily cases in the coming few days.
However, the people are much less concerned about the Covid-19 situation than they were in the initial era of the pandemic, mostly due to having lived with Covid-19 for two years which has normalised the pandemic and due to a majority of the population having been vaccinated. The people seem to be under the impression that we are safe, when in reality, although we are relatively safer than we were a year ago, we are not safe from the threat of Covid-19.
In fact, the threat of Covid-19 has changed. A year ago, our main concern was how to prevent Covid-19-related deaths and deadly complications. Vaccination was the best solution we had, and it helped us mitigate the damages caused by deadly variants such as Delta. However, with more transmissible variants such as Omicron emerging, although Covid-19-related deaths may not be the main threat anymore, rapidly increasing cases can affect our health sector’s ability to fight Covid-19.
It is already happening. This week, it was reported that nearly 70-80% of intensive care unit (ICU) beds allocated for Covid-19 patients in some hospitals are occupied, and media reports quoted National Institute of Infectious Diseases Hospital officials as saying that the number of Covid-19 patients being admitted to that hospital had risen by around 50%. A significant rise in the demand for supplemental oxygen had also been reported during the past two weeks. We cannot also forget the fact that all this happens in a context where healthcare workers are demanding solutions from the Government for their salary-related issues.
It is important and necessary to keep the country open, and Sri Lanka is not in a position to impose lockdowns or stringent restrictions anymore. Economic activities have to continue in order to prevent the economic crisis from worsening. However, this is not just a matter about businesses or other projects that came to a standstill owing to the pandemic. This is more about the country’s health sector, which became extremely busy during the pandemic, and was on the brink of collapse. Another rise in Covid-19 cases, or a wave, is not a challenge the health sector can face like it did last year.
However, with people acting recklessly as if the Covid-19 pandemic has ended, controlling the prevailing situation would be extremely difficult. We must not and we cannot wait until the situation gets out of hand, and if that was to happen, the Government and the health authorities will have to go for stricter restrictions including travel restrictions as the health authorities have been warning for several weeks.
Therefore, any action we need to take has to be taken now, and it is the people who have to take the main responsibility in this regard. Early action can not only control the rise in Covid-19 cases, but it will also prevent the possibility of having to take strict steps in the coming few months. Adhering to the basic Covid-19 safety precautions is therefore still crucial.Not another wave, again
28 Jan 2022
Not another wave, again
28 Jan 2022
Sri Lankans have been barely able to spend three months without travel restrictions or without worrying about the possibility of another Covid-19 wave like before. Although there was a certain sense of safety after the third wave was brought under control, now, there are warning signs of the emergence of another wave that we cannot ignore.
Covid-19-related statistics during the past few weeks have been alarming, as they continue to show a significant and steady rise in the number of daily Covid-19 cases. According to the Health Promotion Bureau’s reports, from mid-January to date, within just two weeks, the number of daily cases has almost doubled from 594 cases on 13 January to 927 cases on 27 January, and Sri Lanka is very likely to pass the mark of 1,000 daily cases in the coming few days.
However, the people are much less concerned about the Covid-19 situation than they were in the initial era of the pandemic, mostly due to having lived with Covid-19 for two years which has normalised the pandemic and due to a majority of the population having been vaccinated. The people seem to be under the impression that we are safe, when in reality, although we are relatively safer than we were a year ago, we are not safe from the threat of Covid-19.
In fact, the threat of Covid-19 has changed. A year ago, our main concern was how to prevent Covid-19-related deaths and deadly complications. Vaccination was the best solution we had, and it helped us mitigate the damages caused by deadly variants such as Delta. However, with more transmissible variants such as Omicron emerging, although Covid-19-related deaths may not be the main threat anymore, rapidly increasing cases can affect our health sector’s ability to fight Covid-19.
It is already happening. This week, it was reported that nearly 70-80% of intensive care unit (ICU) beds allocated for Covid-19 patients in some hospitals are occupied, and media reports quoted National Institute of Infectious Diseases Hospital officials as saying that the number of Covid-19 patients being admitted to that hospital had risen by around 50%. A significant rise in the demand for supplemental oxygen had also been reported during the past two weeks. We cannot also forget the fact that all this happens in a context where healthcare workers are demanding solutions from the Government for their salary-related issues.
It is important and necessary to keep the country open, and Sri Lanka is not in a position to impose lockdowns or stringent restrictions anymore. Economic activities have to continue in order to prevent the economic crisis from worsening. However, this is not just a matter about businesses or other projects that came to a standstill owing to the pandemic. This is more about the country’s health sector, which became extremely busy during the pandemic, and was on the brink of collapse. Another rise in Covid-19 cases, or a wave, is not a challenge the health sector can face like it did last year.
However, with people acting recklessly as if the Covid-19 pandemic has ended, controlling the prevailing situation would be extremely difficult. We must not and we cannot wait until the situation gets out of hand, and if that was to happen, the Government and the health authorities will have to go for stricter restrictions including travel restrictions as the health authorities have been warning for several weeks.
Therefore, any action we need to take has to be taken now, and it is the people who have to take the main responsibility in this regard. Early action can not only control the rise in Covid-19 cases, but it will also prevent the possibility of having to take strict steps in the coming few months. Adhering to the basic Covid-19 safety precautions is therefore still crucial.Kapruka
Discover Kapruka, the leading online shopping platform in Sri Lanka, where you can conveniently send Gifts and Flowers to your loved ones for any event. Explore a wide range of popular Shopping Categories on Kapruka, including Toys, Groceries, Electronics, Birthday Cakes, Fruits, Chocolates, Automobile, Mother and Baby Products, Clothing, and Fashion. Additionally, Kapruka offers unique online services like Money Remittance, Astrology, Medicine Delivery, and access to over 700 Top Brands. Also If you’re interested in selling with Kapruka, Partner Central by Kapruka is the best solution to start with. Moreover, through Kapruka Global Shop, you can also enjoy the convenience of purchasing products from renowned platforms like Amazon and eBay and have them delivered to Sri Lanka.Send love straight to their heart this Valentine's with our thoughtful gifts!
Discover Kapruka, the leading online shopping platform in Sri Lanka, where you can conveniently send Gifts and Flowers to your loved ones for any event. Explore a wide range of popular Shopping Categories on Kapruka, including Toys, Groceries, Electronics, Birthday Cakes, Fruits, Chocolates, Automobile, Mother and Baby Products, Clothing, and Fashion. Additionally, Kapruka offers unique online services like Money Remittance, Astrology, Medicine Delivery, and access to over 700 Top Brands. Also If you’re interested in selling with Kapruka, Partner Central by Kapruka is the best solution to start with. Moreover, through Kapruka Global Shop, you can also enjoy the convenience of purchasing products from renowned platforms like Amazon and eBay and have them delivered to Sri Lanka.Send love straight to their heart this Valentine's with our thoughtful gifts!