Colombo Mayoress Rosy Senanayake issued an urgent message to Colombo’s residents and visitors, recommending increased caution regarding the prevailing Covid-19 situation.
“I am appealing to you all to be extremely vigilant and cautious in your activities. Take your responsibility to yourself, and others, very seriously,” she had stated.
She had also noted that while the Government is doing its best to manage the situation, the health system is severely stretched, and health officials are struggling to cope, stating: “This is not unique to Sri Lanka, as we have seen how the health systems of even the most developed economies struggled to cope with the epidemic.”
She appealed to citizens to ensure the following over the next few weeks:
- Get yourself vaccinated, if not already done so
- Wear a well-fitting mask or even double mask whenever out of home. Sanitise often and maintain social distancing at all times
- Do not leave home unless absolutely necessary. Check if the service you need is available online. For example, many services related to the Colombo Municipal Council (CMC), are available online
- When you do leave home, minimise the time spent away from home
- Do not permit any visitors to your home unless absolutely necessary
- The Government is permitting certain activities so that essential work can be continued. Do not take it as an opportunity to undertake any activities other than what is absolutely necessary
- It is alarming to see many business establishments, including but not limited to, restaurants, hotels, shops, and supermarkets, openly ignoring health guidelines on crowding, temperature checks, and contact info gathering. This is reckless disregard of customer and employee safety, and completely unacceptable. Fancy statements on corporate social responsibility amount to nothing if you do not step up now
- Businesses also should encourage employees to work from home unless it’s absolutely necessary to be physically present at work. In such instances, they should try to provide a mode of transport for the individual that minimises exposure
- Furthermore, employees may take unnecessary risks due to concerns about losing their jobs. It is incumbent on the employer not to create that work environment