The lockdown now in effect has been extended till Monday, September 6. While this may inconvenience the people and deal another blow to the economy, the Government has decided that this is the best course of action after a careful scrutiny of medical advice and scientific rationale.
If implemented properly, lockdowns can and do save lives. This was evident during the previous round of lockdowns in 2020, when the country was “closed” for around three months at a stretch. This lockdown or quarantine curfew was very strictly enforced, to the extent that some towns became “ghost towns” taken over by stray animals and even wildlife. But in the end, a lot of lives were saved – only 13 deaths were recorded during that whole period.
But that lockdown did result in much damage to the economy. Hence, most economists argued against strict lockdowns, urging that certain economic sectors be allowed to function in the midst of some restrictions. Thus in order to balance economic imperatives and health concerns, the authorities opted for “travel restrictions” instead of full-blown quarantine curfews. The aim was to restrict public movements and thereby the spread of the Coronavirus.
But it is doubtful whether this purpose as achieved by the travel restrictions imposed after the Sinhala and Tamil New Year, since it was widely observed in the breach. In fact, there has been a surge in the number of cases and deaths over the past few weeks. It is this surge that led the Association of Medical Specialists (AMS) and other bodies involved in the medical profession to once again demand a strict lockdown. After listening to all the sides, the Government finally sided with the medical professionals and imposed the current quarantine curfew.
Clearly, the authorities are stricter than they were during the earlier travel restrictions but it has been observed that there are more vehicles on the road than there should be. All of them cannot be carrying essential services workers. The Police and Security Forces should be more vigilant on this score and at least turn back anyone masquerading as an essential worker, if taking legal action is too much of a hassle in the rush of things.
In any case, the effects of the present lockdown will be felt only in the next few weeks. Although some critics question why the present lockdown is not seemingly effective at first glance, there cannot be an immediate reduction in the number of deaths and cases as the present surge continues from the previous few weeks. This is indeed why there should be better policing of the Quarantine Curfew now, so that case numbers would probably be reduced in the next few weeks. Medical professionals have called for a further extension, even beyond September 6, perhaps until the beginning of October.
In the meantime, this period should be used to expedite the vaccination program, which is the only way to emerge out of this crisis. There is no bar to travel to and from vaccination centres at any time anywhere in the island even during the quarantine curfew.
It is the general consensus of the medical fraternity that vaccination is the best option to defeat the pandemic, apart from adherence to health guidelines such as wearing face masks and washing hands. Drugs are being developed to fight Covid-19, but they are still in a nascent, even experimental stage. Prevention is still the best cure for Covid-19.
In fact, the vaccination program throughout the country has received a boost with the availability of ample stocks of various vaccines. The total number of all Covid-19 vaccine doses brought to the country so far for the immunisation program exceeds 22 million doses, according to State Minister of Production, Supply and Regulation of Pharmaceuticals Minister Professor Channa Jayasumana.
The number of doses of all vaccines brought to the country has increased to 22.8 million with the arrival of three million doses of the Sinopharm Covid-19 vaccine manufactured in China last week. The Epidemiology Unit of the Health Ministry said that 12,255,121 persons have been given the first dose of the Covid-19 vaccine and that 6,464,296 persons have got the second dose as well. The country has received 2.8 million AstraZeneca vaccine doses, 195,000 Sputnik V doses, 17.7 million Sinopharm doses, 540,540 Pfizer doses and 1.5 million Moderna doses.
The vaccination program will soon be extended to the 18-30 group, though some among this group have already got the vaccine as they work for essential services such as garment factories, ports and airports and media. Moreover, the on-call at the home vaccination program launched by the Army in the Western Province has now been extended to most other provinces.
Those over 60 who are unable to leave home for whatever reason to get the jab at a vaccination centre can call 1906 to register for this service. Upon registration, a team will come to the caller’s residence and administer the vaccine. In fact, vaccination should be regarded as a national responsibility of all those who wish to see an end to the pandemic.
Hence all those who have had the vaccine should become “vaccine ambassadors” to propagate the importance of vaccination. It is especially important to urge those still holding out on vaccination to get the jab as soon as possible. This is especially so for those over 60, who are especially vulnerable to Covid. Statistics have shown that more than 90 percent of the current wave of Covid deaths are of unvaccinated persons over 60. Therefore, we all have a responsibility to save our elders at this critical juncture through vaccination.