COVID-19 Epidemic in Sri Lanka – One Year On

Figure 3, COVID-19 Statistics as of March 2021 At the time of writing, Sri Lanka completed one year grappling with the pandemic. As of 13 March 2021, the island reported 87,600 cumulative number of COVID cases with 526 reported deaths, and 84,253 or 96.2% recovering from the disease. Based on the statistics, it can be concluded that Sri Lanka has so far contained the disease effectively as substantiated by the comparative rates provided in Figure 04 below.

Country

Sri Lanka India Singapore Australia South East Asian Region

Cumulative Cases per 1 million population

4003 8124 10259 1138 6770

Covid - 19 deaths per 1 million population

23 114 5 36 104

Figure 4, Cumulative Cases per 1Mil population, Epidemiology Unit, Ministry of Health Source: http://www.epid.gov.lk/web/images/pdf/corona_virus_report/sitrep-sl-en-13-03_10_21.pdf

Figure 5, Epi curve of COVID-19 Patients, Epidemiology Unit, Ministry of Health Sri Lanka (Source: http://www.epid.gov.lk/web/images/pdf/Circulars/Corona_virus/epi-curve_13_03_2021_2.jpg) SUWODAYA Report March 2020 - March 2021 14

Although the statistics are favourable the threat is still at large. Despite the declining prevalence of cases, the potential of new clusters being formed is still at large due to the daily numbers reported over hundred cases a day. Moreover, the devastating psycho-social-economic impact on lives and livelihoods of people has highly impacted personal and communal relations. The upcoming Sri Lankan New Year season in April could bring about another outbreak if people take precautions lightly and if health regulations are loosened.

In that light Sarvodaya plans to extend their awareness work as well as its ongoing long-term impact work related to COVID-19 by partnering with donors on entrepreneurial ventures to discover sustainable solutions to address the aftermath and consequences of prolonged lockdowns and rising unemployment due to the negative effects of COVID-19. Focus will be on much required sustainable programmes and initiatives to address unemployment and other long-term impacts of COVID19. Sarvodaya's five-pronged programme to address impacts of COVID-19 (Figure 02) will be further strengthened to reinforce mitigation activities and to discover plausible long-term solutions. In that regard, Sarvodaya warmly extends their support to partners and welcomes development partnerships to affect new programmes for constructive engagement with individuals, donors and partnering organisations to uplift the wellbeing of Sri Lankan communities and to leave no one behind in that process.