With certain adverse impacts of the economic crisis alleviating and certain aspects of the national economy stabilising, although slowly, many Sri Lankans appear to have started revelling in the little peace of mind that they have received. The tendency to live their normal day-to-day lives was displayed through the manner in which the public celebrated the Sinhala-Tamil New Year last month (April), where the usual New Year shopping, visiting friends and relatives and trips were a common sight. However, according to medical professionals, that behaviour is an indication that the country has forgotten an important lesson which it learnt during the peak of the Covid-19 pandemic. They note that there should not be a repeat of the same behaviour during the upcoming Vesak season.

These medical professionals caution that the public should not be careless, despite the significant drop in Covid-19 cases and related deaths as well as the fact that the economic crisis has distracted many from the existence of the health crisis created by Covid-19. Recently, the Government Medical Officers’ Association (GMOA) requested the public to follow Covid-19 safety precautionary measures during the upcoming Vesak season, taking into account the slight increase in the number of Covid-19 cases during the past few days. Moreover, they advised those who have not been fully vaccinated against Covid-19 to be cautious and to follow Covid-19 safety precautions. This is in a context where the health authorities have warned of certain other respiratory diseases as well.  

The fact that this increase in Covid-19 cases came to light immediately after the New Year festive season and also that the Vesak festival is one of the most famous festivals which involves significant movement among the public, are concerning. While celebrating whatever festivals that the public thinks are important, it is crucial that they take Covid-19 precautionary measures seriously. Wearing face masks when in crowded places and maintaining social distance whenever possible are practices that the public exercised for more than two years, and adhering to the same, at the very least for a few weeks, should not be considered an arduous task in the face of a health risk that is becoming apparent.

It goes without saying that the failure to follow simple Covid-19 safety precautions for a few weeks has the potential to place the country in a health crisis that is most likely to last for a few months or even years and is difficult to manage. Unlike in the initial stage of the Covid-19 pandemic where the country had the monetary and other resources to provide the necessary facilities to deal with the spread of Covid-19, now, it lacks the resources to provide even some of the most rudimentary facilities and services as a result of the economic crisis that dealt a heavy blow to the health sector. Even in the public’s case, especially due to economic hardships, not too many have the ability to take a break from their jobs in the event of contracting Covid-19 or money for any relevant treatments. In this context, managing another wave of Covid-19 would be extremely difficult both at the national and household and individual levels, and therefore, the best solution is prevention, for which the public must be committed.

At the same time, those who have not been vaccinated against Covid-19 should be more careful, as they are at a bigger risk of contracting the disease than those who have been fully or partially vaccinated. According to the Health Ministry’s Epidemiology Unit, any person who has not been vaccinated against Covid-19 is still able to receive them from hospitals and Medical Officers of Health offices across the country. While the health authorities should pay more attention to promoting these services, the public should get those services for themselves and the country.