COVID-19: RESPONSIBILITY LEFT WITH THE PEOPLE

In the first seven months between March 11 and October 4 Sri Lanka saw only around 3500 coronavirus infected people out of whom 13 died. But, for the past one month since October 4 the number of infected persons has surged by over 9,000, bringing the total close to 13,000, while the death toll dreadfully rose up to 29.

- M.S.M.Ayub

Before October 4, the number of daily new patients remained in single or double digits except for a few days which saw three digits the highest of which was 300. After the first patient of a new cluster was detected at the Brandix apparel factory in Minuwangoda on October 4, the average daily surge remains between 300 and 400 with the number even reaching four digits at the beginning.

As in many countries an ironic situation has arisen. When the situation was not so serious drastic actions such as lock downs, curfews and holidays were declared whereas the trend now is towards opening of the country while the situation seems to be out of hand or difficult to be coped with. When the total number of COVID 19 patients was not even hundred and the daily surge had been maximum 15, the authorities first announced holidays, then work from home procedures and then curfews while isolating villages even with a single family cluster. When one infected person was reported from Akurana curfew was imposed in the whole district of Kandy.

But according to the Army Commander who is the head of the National Operation Centre for Prevention of COVID 19 Outbreak (NOCPO) curfew is to be lifted in the Western Province on Monday despite thousands of patients being reported during the past one month. The death toll on Thursday was 5 which is a shocking number in Sri Lanka.