Is staying at home the new norm? A Thread.

First I don't blame the government for the strategy they have taken. I don't blame healthcare services as they are giving 110% on this. However, what needs to be said, should be said. #SriLanka #LKA #COVID19SL

Our testing for COVID19 is not at an acceptable level. We should test more and more.
We don't even test quarantine people before letting them go after 14 days.
We don't test all close contacts of positive patients.
People can't test it for themselves.

People get tested only when they are admitted to a hospital, and with the stigma and discrimination that we've created, if the test comes out positive they are criminals too.

We did some out of the box testing on one day, and one day only. We found 21 cases on that day.

So in reality, we can't take that many patients. It will break our health care system. So we have to test the minimum and keep the system running. The BIG question is, for how long?

This is why I say, staying at home should be the new norm. We might have to stay indoors for another few months. For older parents like mine, I'd say they can only come out for Christmas, they aren't safe before that.

Are we planning on this though? We keep thinking the end of our lockdown will be in the next couple of weeks and everything will be back to normal. Since that is not the reality, What everyone should be doing is getting ready for the long run.

Supermarkets should be investing more in their delivery strategies. Ride-hailing apps might have to convert 80% of their cars/tuk-tuks for delivery vehicles. All bakeries and restaurants have to sign up with food delivery partners.

Brand new ways need to be introduced to veg/fish distribution. Colombo tea auction has already done its part, by introducing the online platform to keep the business running.

In the end we need to re-invent Sri Lanka with more efficient systems. The private sector should step into this. All I ask from the government is to protect our no-income (there aren't low-income people anymore) people at this moment. Make sure that they get their needs fulfilled

Let the private sector take care of others. We couldn't capitalize on the system after the tsunami or after the end of the war. We can't let that happen again.
#NewSriLanka #NewEra