An Alternate Perspective In Uncharted Waters

Fallout economic meltdown could exceed the deaths of COVID-19 in SLWith prudent/rational action, the country can be up and running in good order

- Nalin Fernando

It is said, “If you can stay positive in a negative situation, you Win.”

The population of the World is 7.6+Billion. Therein, the population of South & South East Asia is 2.5+Billion or nearly 33%. South Asia - 8 Nations, 1.94+Billion people (Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan & Sri Lanka).

South East Asia - 11 Nations, 0.66+Billion people (Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Myanmar, Laos, Malaysia, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, Timor-Leste & Vietnam).

BEGINNING

In end December 2019, the first case of what is now known as COVID-19 was reported in China. On 13 January, the first case outside of China was reported in Thailand, even before any cases were reported in Japan or South Korea. The first case in Sri Lanka was reported on 27 January 2020. The WHO declared COVID-19 a global pandemic on 11 March 2020. Fear, trepidation, ignorance or who is fooling whom?

On 3 April 2020, globally the COVID-19 reported cases reached over 1,000,000 and the reported deaths were over 51,000. Comparatively, in all of South & South East Asia the total reported cases of COVID-19 is less than 18,000 (under 1.8% of the global figure) and less than 500 deaths (under 1% of the global figure). This is over 11 weeks since the first case in Thailand and over 9 weeks since the first case in Sri Lanka.

Government decisions and actions may well have contributed to keeping the local number of COVID-19 deaths to 4 (with under 160 cases reported). The restriction/suspension of International passenger travel for a month or as needed, closure of schools until Second Term/end April and no public events/gatherings permitted, are favourable.

A look at a few causes of death in Sri Lanka in 2019 (Population 21+Million)