COVID-19 pandemic in Sri Lanka: Difference between revisions
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Revision as of 06:58, 24 March 2020
 | This article is about a current disease pandemic where information can change quickly or be unreliable. The latest page updates may not reflect the most up-to-date information. |
| 2020 coronavirus pandemic in Sri Lanka | |
|---|---|
| Disease | COVID-19 (Coronavirus) |
| Virus strain | SARS-CoV-2 |
| Location | Sri Lanka |
| First outbreak | Wuhan, Hubei, China |
| Index case | Colombo |
| Date | 27 January 2020 - present (4 years, 5 months, 1 week and 5 days) |
| Confirmed cases | 97[1] |
| Recovered | 2[1] |
Deaths | 0[1] |
The 2020 coronavirus pandemic in Sri Lanka is an ongoing viral pandemic of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), a novel infectious disease caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). As of 23 March 2020, 91 confirmed cases have been reported in the country.[2][3][4][5][6][7][8][9] On 3 March 2020, the first reported case involving a Sri Lankan origin outside Sri Lanka was reported in Italy. As of 23 March 2020, 45 quarantine centres have been built in the country by the Sri Lanka Army as a preventive measure to tackle the coronavirus pandemic.[10]
Timeline
Prior to 27 January, the Ministry of Health in Sri Lanka had instructed the Quarantine Unit at Bandaranaike International Airport to screen passengers for symptoms. Additionally, the ministry warned that infants, children, pregnant women, the elderly and people who suffer from chronic diseases among other issues should avoid visiting crowded places when possible.[11] A 22-member National Action Committee has been set up by the ministry to prevent the spread of coronavirus in Sri Lanka.[12] The Department of Immigration and Emigration also informed all construction sites with Chinese resident visa holders to restrict their Chinese employees to their respective workplaces and lodgings.[13]
On 27 January, the first confirmed case of the virus was reported in Sri Lanka, a 44-year-old Chinese woman from Hubei Province in China; she was admitted to the National Institute of Infection Diseases.[14] She had arrived as a tourist with another group of travellers, and had been screened at the Bandaranaike International Airport after having a high fever. She had fully recovered and was released from hospital on 19 February.[15]
Following the first reported case of coronavirus in Sri Lanka on 27 January, demand for face masks in the country soared and the country began to face a mask shortage.[16] Some pharmacies in the country had sold all face masks and there were reports from customers that face masks were being sold at over ten to twenty times the original price.[16] As a result, the country's drug regulatory agency placed price controls on face masks.[16][needs update]
33 Sri Lankan students and families were evacuated from Wuhan on 1 February and kept under Quarantine at a Military facility at Diyatalawa.[17] They were released after two weeks quarantine period on 14 February.[18]
Since the first week of March, passengers coming from Italy, Iran, or South Korea have been required to be quarantined for two weeks at one of two facilities. On 10 March, 186 people (164 Sri Lankan nationals, 20 Italian nationals and 2 South Korean nationals) were placed under quarantine in Batticaloa.[19] On 10 March 2020, 2 Sri Lankan origins living in United Arab Emirates reported with coronavirus cases were identified.
On 10 March, the first Sri Lankan local national tested positive for COVID-19.[20] A 52-year-old tour guide working with a group of Italians had tested positive. He is under treatment in Infectious Disease Hospital, Angoda.[21] Twenty nine patients were under observation in government hospitals, including eight foreigners.[22] Following the new developments, the country suspended on arrival visa for tourists on 11 March [23][24]
On 12 March, another Sri Lankan person confirmed positive for COVID-19.[25] A 44 years old person, who had reportedly stayed with the first Sri Lankan patient diagnosed with the virus who is currently admitted at Infectious Disease Hospital, Angoda, has also now tested positive for coronavirus.[26]
On 13 March, three more confirmed Coronavirus patients identified in Sri Lanka. One of these patients is a 41-year-old Sri Lankan male who had arrived from Germany. He has been admitted to the Infectious Disease Hospital, Angoda. The other two patients are from the group of people who had been quarantined at the facility in Kandakadu. One of them is a 37-year-old who had arrived from Italy and was placed under quarantine at Kandakadu upon arriving in the country. He is currently being treated at the Polonnaruwa Hospital, Polonnaruwa. The other is a 43-year-old male who had also arrived from Italy. He is being treated at Infectious Disease Hospital, Angoda.[27]
On 14 March, five more confirmed coronavirus patients were identified in Sri Lanka. One of the patients is a 44-year-old who was quarantined in the Kandakadu quarantine camp and is now being treated at the Polonnaruwa General Hospital. Another patient is 43 year old from Nattandiya area and is being treated at the Kurunegala General Hospital. The other patient is a 42-year-old male who was also quarantined in the Kandakadu quarantine camp and is now being treated at the Polonnaruwa General Hospital. All three of these patients have returned to Sri Lanka from Italy recently.[28] Another two more confirmed coronavirus patients were identified in Sri Lanka. While one of them is a 56-year-old female who returned from Italy, the other patient is a 17-year-old girl who is a relative of an already confirmed COVID-19 case. It was also reported that one of the co-pilots of the Sri Lankan Airlines who was infected with the coronavirus attended the annual Royal–Thomian Big Match between S. Thomas' College, Mount Lavinia and the Royal College, Colombo which held from 12 March to 14 March.[29]
On 15 March, 7 more new confirmed cases were reported taking the overall tally to 18 and the surge of new cases cautioned government to declare 16th March a public holiday but later it extended the holiday until Thursday, 19th of March.[30] On 16 March, 10 more cases were reported, taking the tally to 28.[31][32] On 17 March, another 15 more cases were reported taking the tally to 43.[33] On 17 March, the Secretary to the Ministry of Defence Kamal Gunaratne revealed that around 170 passengers who returned from Italy and South Korea had neglected the quarantine procedure.[34]
On 18 March, second patient was identified to be fully recovered from the infection and on the same day another seven cases was reported taking the tally to 50.[35] On 19 March, nine more cases were identified taking the tally to 59. One of the patients a man from Ja-Ela admitted himself to the Ragama Hospital for chest pains and continuously lied about his travel history. After the tests were done the patient came positive for COVID 19. The patient was removed to the isolated ward but not before exposing staff, patients and others to the virus. As a result the entire hospital ward had to be closed down and the staff were quarantined.[36][37] [38] On 20 March, eleven more cases were reported taking the tally to 70. Most of the confirmed cases are reported from Gampaha district with 18, 17 from Colombo and 12 from Puttalam.[39] On 21 March, 6 more cases were confirmed taking the tally to 77.[40] An Army officer who was engaged in escorting Sri Lankans to quarantine centres also contracted with Coronavirus.[41]
On 22 March, the first confirmed coronavirus case was reported in Jaffna and the patient is believed to have maintained close relationships with the senior pastor who was tested positive for COVID-19.[42] 5 more cases were reported on 22 March taking the tally to 82.[43] On 23 March, 5 more cases were reported taking the tally to 87.[44] On 23 March, country's first locally identified person infected with the coronavirus has been discharged from the hospital after showing improvement during recovery.[45]
 | Graphs are unavailable due to technical issues. There is more info on Phabricator and on MediaWiki.org. |
Response
Sri Lankan government has requested the general public to practice proper hygiene methods and self quarantine methods to safeguard from the disease.[46]
On 14 March, the Sri Lankan government declared 16 March 2020, as a national public holiday to contain the coronavirus spreading in the country.[47][48][49]
On 15 March, Sri Lankan President Gotabaya Rajapaksa proposed plans to combat coronavirus to the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation leaders during a video press conference arranged by Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi.[50] Sri Lankan President directed the authorities to implement proper quarantine centres to examine the foreigners and ordered relevant authorities to provide necessary essential services to the general public via internet.[51]
On 16 March, the Government Medical Officers Association (GMOA) requested President Gotabaya Rajapaksa to extend the Public holiday to 1 week, and close all ports of entry to the country. [52] The government extended the public holidays to three days from 17 March to 19 March due to increase in new cases except for health, banking, food supply and transportation.[53][54]
On 17 March 2020, Sri Lankan President Gotabaya Rajapaksa stated that Sri Lanka has not reached full time quarantine level and criticised the comparisons regarding the country's situation with lockdown in Italy which was urged by Sri Lankan general public in the social media.[55] President also ordered the banking sector to not overburden the coronavirus hit business sector which are unable to repay the loan and ordered the banking sector to further extend the payback period to another six months.[56]
Minister of Health Pavithra Wanniarachchi revealed that around 24 hospitals are available ready to tackle the coronavirus emergency.[57]
On 19 March, the government decided to further extend the public holidays for 8 days from 20 March to 27 March to both private and public sectors as a remedy to confront the coronavirus pandemic. The government urged the public to work at home and declared a "work from home period" for those eight days.[58] The government is also planning to convert former Voice of America relay station into a COVID-19 treating hospital.[59]
On 21 March, the government strictly cautioned that younger children and older people shouldn't be allowed to purchase at the supermarket and urged only one person per family to visit the supermarket to avoid unnecessary gatherings. The government also urged the public to not utilize chloroquine which is used to treat the patients who are diagnosed with Malaria.[60]
On 23 March, Sri Lankan President Gotabaya Rajapaksa introduced a relief fund called "COVID-19 Healthcare and Social Security Fund" to combat the novel coronavirus pandemic.[61] The President himself contributed about Rs. 100 million from President Fund.[62] President also revealed that general public can delay the monthly electricity, water bills until 30 April.
Political agenda
Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa condemned former UNP leader Ranil Wickramesinghe's remarks over possibility of the shortage of funds after 30 March and criticised him for politicising the current coronavirus pandemic.[63][64] The government firmly warned Sajith Premadasa and UNP party for spreading rumours and misinformation among the general public and accused the opposition party UNP of earning political gains from the coronavirus pandemic.
Philadelphia Missionary Church
On 21 March 2020, the authorities urged all the people who attended the Sunday service at Philadelphia Missionary Church, Jaffna to self quarantine themselves for at least 14 days.[65] It was reported that on 15 March 2020, the main senior pastor of the church conducted special Sunday service.[66] It was later reported that the pastor was tested positive for COVID-19 and went to Switzerland on that day itself with his wife for medical treatment.[67][68][69] The person also believed to have infected with the virus after coming to Sri Lanka.[70] The Northern Province Governor P. S. M. Charles confirmed that the pastor with the coronavirus symptoms hugged and blessed all worshippers during the service. Around 150 people were reported to have attended the service according to the EconomyNext.[71] 3 of them are under medical treatment at the Jaffna Teaching Hospital.
Travel restrictions
The government also banned the arrival of travellers from several countries of continental Europe including Spain, Norway, Switzerland, Belgium, Sweden, Germany, France, Austria and Netherlands[72][73], extending this to the United Kingdom on 15 March.[74][75] The travel ban was also imposed to foreign travellers from India, South Korea and Iran.[76] SriLankan Airlines have cancelled several scheduled flights from several countries including India amid coronavirus fears.[77] As of 17 March 2020 midnight, Sri Lankan government ordered travel restrictions to Canada, Bahrain and Qatar.[78] The landing of aircrafts were also suspended for two weeks with immediate effect from 19 March until 25 March at BIA airport except the arrival of cargo goods.[79][80] The government also extended the validity of all visas of foreigners till 12 April.[81]
On 22 March, the government banned the arrival of all incoming passenger ships and planes.[82]
Arrests and Legal Actions
On 16 March 4 Sri Lankans who evaded quarantine after returning from South Korea were arrested by the Sri Lankan police while hiding in their homes. Legal action was also taken against a 45-year-old patient who despite knowing his travel partner to Germany was infected avoided instructions to admit himself for treatment.[83] Later he tested himself from a private hospital despite a ban on private testing of the virus by the government. He only admitted himself at the IDH after 3 days with the virus. [84][85]
On 20 March the Mayor of Dambulla Jaliya Opatha and another was arrested by the police after he organised a bicycle race despite the ban on gatherings. 20 were taken into custody by Sri Lanka Navy in Kochchikade and Puttalam coasts after attempting to go out after curfew and a court case was filed against the COVID 19 patient that admitted himself to Ragama Hospital for chest pains while hiding his travel history resulting in quarantining of the hospital staff. [86][87]
As of 22 March, nearly 291 people were arrested for breaching the curfew rules imposed by the government.[88][89]
Curfews
On 18 March, Sri Lanka Police imposed an emergency curfew in Puttalam, Negombo, Kochikade and Chilaw as around 800 returnees from Italy have speculated to have visited those areas.[90][91] The statement was officially confirmed by the Army General Shavendra Silva.[92] On 19 March, emergency curfew was imposed from 10pm in the night in few areas including Wattala and Ja-Ela until further notice following the discovery of a new coronavirus case in Ja-Ela.[93][94]
On 20 March, the Sri Lankan President announced that a lockdown styled curfew will be imposed for the entire nation from 20 March 6pm in the evening to 24 March 6am in the morning to contain the coronavirus pandemic.[95][96][97] It was earlier revealed that the government would impose the curfew from 20 to 23 March but it was further extended to 24 March early morning 6am due to surge in new cases. However the government announced that the curfew will be lifted from most parts of the country from 23 March except Colombo, Gampaha, Jaffna, Kilinochi and Mulaitivu to encourage rural public to engage in retail purchases.[98]
On 23 March, the government announced that it will impose the quarantine curfew from 24 March 12pm in the noon until 27 March to contain the spreading of coronavirus and also the government banned the citizens from inter-district travel from 24 to 27 March.[99]
International support
The Government of China extended their support to Sri Lanka by extending the concessionary loan of USD 500 million in order to fight the coronavirus.[100] The US government also lent their support to combat coronavirus outbreak by donating essential supplies such as nitrile gloves and heavy duty work gloves.[101]
The founder of Alibaba Group Chinese billionaire Jack Ma announced his plans to help the Asian countries affected by the coronavirus including Sri Lanka by providing essential emergency supplies such as masks, test kits and confirmed it in his Twitter account.[102][103]
Criticisms regarding Big Match
The health authorities have ordered self isolation for 14 days to those who attended the annual Big Match, which is a cricket match held between S.Thomas' College Mount Lavinia and Royal College Colombo which is also popularly known as the Battle of the Blues.[104] The warning was raised after one of the old boys of S.Thomas College who is also one of the co-pilots of Sri Lankan Airlines was infected with the coronavirus after attending the match. The officials warned that there is a possibility of the virus being spread to the crowd mainly including the old boys of their respective schools who gathered in large numbers.[105] It was earlier reported that the President Gotabaya Rajapaksa urged the organisers to cancel the Big Match but the organisers neglected the instructions given by the President and went ahead with the match. Several companies and businesses have ordered their employees who attended the Big Match to not report to work for 14 days.[106]
Criticisms regarding general public
Former Sri Lankan veteran cricketer Mahela Jayawardene took to social media and slammed the public who stayed in long queues in the supermarket without maintaining distance and not wearing face masks. He criticised that the people were not aware of their behaviour in order to safeguard themselves from the virus.[107]
The supermarket chains in the country have made arrangements to control the panic buying and queuing of the public.[108] The general public have been heavily criticised for lack of support to combat coronavirus pandemic due to their reckless behaviour.
Impact
Elections
On 19 March, Election Commissioner Mahinda Deshapriya revealed that the 2020 Sri Lankan parliamentary election will be postponed indefinitely until further notice due to the coronavirus pandemic.[109][110] Sri Lankan government initially insisted that scheduled forthcoming the election would proceed as planned on 25 April despite the coronavirus pandemic, and the authorities banned election rallies and meetings.[111]
Tourism
The coronavirus outbreak further affected the downfall of the tourism sector of the country which was recovering slowly from the impact of the 2019 Easter bombings. The tourism sector was directly affected with the decrease of Chinese tourist arrivals. The Sri Lankan government also suspended flights to mainland China and pilgrimages to India.[112]
Education
The government ordered to close schools for five weeks from 12 March to 20 April which also marks the end of the first term and also the academic school exams slated for the first term were also scrapped.[113][114][115] The private tuition classes and tutorials including the Institute of Bankers of Sri Lanka are also closed for two weeks until 26 March.[116]
Entertainment
The Sri Lankan government imposed ban on public gatherings for two weeks amid coronavirus fears and insisted that the permission should be taken from the police in order to do so.[117] All film theatres, zoos throughout the country have been closed until further notice.[118] The Sri Lanka Planetarium has also been shut down until further notice with immediate effect from 17 March.[119]
Economy
The Colombo Stock Exchange closed at a new 8 year low amid the coronavirus fears.[120] The stock market activities were halted for at least 30 minutes on 13 March.[121] On 5 March 2020, the Central Bank of Sri Lanka released monetary policy review and the monetary authority decided to maintain policy interest rates unchanged despite coronavirus outbreak (SDFR fixed at 6.5% and the SLFR fixed at 7.5%).[122][123] On 16 March 2020, on a surprising move the Central Bank of Sri Lanka revised monetary policy review and cut the policy rates by 25 basis points and also cut the statutory reserve ratio by 1 basis point due to the coronavirus pandemic.[124][125] The CBSL continued its expansionary monetary policy to prosper the economy.[126][127] Further the CBSL governor W. D. Lakshman requested the financial institutions to not panic due to the economic impact caused by coronavirus.[128] On 18 March, the Securities and Exchange Commission revealed that the Colombo Stock Exchange to be closed until 19 March.[129] CSE has also been given special holidays on 23 and 24 March.
The Central Bank requested the banking sector to operate banking activities for at least two hours on 23 March and the banks encouraged general public to utilize electronic transactions and ATM services instead of physical cash.[130][131]
Religious services
On 15 March 2020, Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Colombo Malcolm Ranjith held a televised church service to combat coronavirus pandemic and the archbishop revealed that church service and holy masses in Colombo and Chilaw will not be conducted until 31 March 2020.[132][133] The ACJU also requested to stop Friday Jummah prayers in mosques until further notice.[134][135]
Sports
The England and Wales Cricket Board suggested English cricketers should not follow the tradition of handshaking during the 2 match test series tour to Sri Lanka which was scheduled to commence on 19 March 2020.[136] Instead the players were advised to bump fists as a precaution.[137] The ECB also told English players not to take selfies or sign autographs with the crowd, and imposed a ban on interaction with fans.[138] On 13 March, the cricket tour was called off, the first-class match in progress was immediately abandoned as a draw, and arrangements were made for the players to come home.[139] Both cricket boards are planning to reschedule the fixtures.[140][141]
The domestic cricket matches have also been postponed indefinitely due to the outbreak and initially the Sri Lanka Cricket planned to conduct the matches until 16 March.[142]
False reports and rumours
On 12 March 2020, false reports were claimed by few individuals in social media that the son of 52 year old tour guide who was infected with COVID-19 virus also deemed to have infected with the virus.[143] However the allegations were refused by the Ministry of Health and was evident that the boy who was falsely alleged to have infected with the virus was reported later that no symptoms were identified after thorough checking and was revealed to be the student of the Ananda College.[144] Sri Lankan Police requested to the general public to not mislead themselves from rumours which are spread across social media platforms.[145]
On 12, 13 and 14 March, general public rushed to the supermarkets and grocery shopping centres with the intention of bulk purchases speculating that the country could face possibility of lockdown amid coronavirus fears, rumours were also spreading in social media that there is a shortage of products in the country.[146][147] The Sri Lankan government later insisted the public to not unnecessarily panic about the coronavirus pandemic and revealed that there is no shortage of essential items in the country including petroleum and food.[148] Sri Lanka Chamber of the Pharmaceutical Industry chairperson Kasturi Chellaraja Wilson revealed that there is no shortage of essential pharmaceutical products and drugs.[149] There were rumours regarding the house-to-house quarantine in the social media but the government refused the allegations.[150]
On 16 March, opposition MP Rajitha Senaratne made a controversial statement that 10 school students being infected with the virus while MP Sarath Fonseka claimed that there three deaths due to the coronavirus. However on 18 March Sarath Fonseka accepted it was a mistake and that he was merely quoting false information on Facebook. The police began an investigation on the two MPs.[151]
Former Opposition Leader Sajith Premadasa promoted Plaquenil as a drug superior than Hydroxychloroquine. Plaquenil is the brand name of Hydroxycholoroquine and is the same drug. Due to its serious side effects self-administration is not recommended. Premadasa also claimed Azithromycin can treat side effects of Hydroxycholoroquine. Azithromycin is an antibiotic and is not used to treat side effects of Hydroxycholoroquine. [152] Sajith Premadasa later apologised for spreading misinformation. [153]
Prison riots
On 21 March, a protest was held by prison inmates in Anuradhapura to separate themselves from each other after the identification of four reported coronavirus cases in Anuradhapura.[154] The protest became violent during a shooting incident resulting in death of two prisoners and further leaving six injured.[155][156][157]
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External links
- Worldwide Coronavirus Map, confirmed Cases – Map the route paths of coronavirus confirmed cases.