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Health authorities fear spike in cases as Omicron spread accelerates
ECONOMYNEXT – With community spread of the Omicron variant showing some acceleration, Sri Lanka’s health authorities fear a spike in daily COVID-19 cases in mid January, as officials warn that “irresponsible behaviour” could lead to severe consequences.
The last four weeks saw over 50 cases of Omicron detected in the island nation across a number of districts, prompting the authorities to declare community spread.
Deputy Director General of Health Services Dr Hemantha Herath has called for strict adherence to COVID-19 safety protocols and precautions.
“Omicron is in the community. If the spreadis accelerated, Sri Lanka will see its cases numbers rise the way they did in Europe,” Herath told reporters on Wednesday (05).
According to the World Health Organisation (WHO), consistent evidence shows that the Omicron variant has a growth advantage over the Delta variant with a doubling time of two to three days. Rapid increases in the incidence of cases can be seen in a number of countries, including those where the variant has become the dominant SARS-CoV-2 variant, such as the United Kingdom and the United States of America.
“Irresponsible behaviour on the part of the public can increase the severity of the situation,” said Herath.
“No one can be forced to take the vaccine. But if there is no support from the public, who will end up facing the consequences? If the country goes back to a lockdown situation, the economic hit will be more severe than it is now,” he said.
Public Health Inspectors (PHI) Union Chairman Upul Rohana said on Tuesday (04) that Omicron cases were detected in multiple districts in the first week of the new year.
“It’s only been one week into the new year and we have identified Omicron patients from all over the country. The variant is clearly spreading island wide at an accelerated pace,” said Rohana.
“In the next two weeks many will contract the variant,” he warned.
The union leader said a majority of the Omicron patients so far have not been vaccinated, have only taken one dose of a vaccine, or have not taken the booster dose even where they were eligible for the shot.
“We urge the public not to postpone vaccination. Get your jab at the right time,” he said.
Meanwhile, the Association of Medical Specialists raised concern over the availability of medical facilities in the event of a rise in cases given the spread of Omicron.
The association said with more medical personnel being infected with the virus, the virus can further affect Sri Lanka’s health care system.
Blaming Sri Lanka’s devastating third wave on disregard for health protocols in April 2021, the association said history can repeat itself with shops and bars being packed with people on December 31 as COVID-19 restrictions were further relaxed by the government.
With only a 25 percent or 4.14 million receiving the booster shot so far, the association said Sri Lanka’s health authorities must insist on health protocols being strictly followed.
The U.S. Embassy in Colombo welcomed the U.S. Sports Envoys to Sri Lanka, former National Basketball Association (NBA) and Women’s National Basketball Association (WNBA) players Stephen Howard and Astou Ndiaye, from June 8 through 14.
The Public Diplomacy section of the U.S. Embassy said that it would launch a weeklong basketball program intended to harness the unifying power of sports, made possible through collaboration with Foundation of Goodness and IImpact Hoop Lab.
While in Sri Lanka, Howard and Ndiaye, both retired professional basketball players, will conduct a weeklong program, Hoops for Hope: Bridging Borders through Basketball. The Sports Envoys will lead basketball clinics and exhibition matches and engage in leadership sessions in Colombo and Southern Province for youth aged 14-18 from Northern, Uva, Eastern and Western Provinces, offering skills and leadership training both on and off the court. The U.S. Envoys will also share their expertise with the Sri Lanka Basketball Federation, national coaches, and players, furthering the development of basketball in the country. Beyond the clinics, they will collaborate with Sri Lankan schoolchildren to take part in a community service project in the Colombo area.
“We are so proud to welcome Stephen and Astou as our Sports Envoys to Sri Lanka, to build on the strong people-to-people connections between the United States and Sri Lanka,” said U.S. Ambassador Julie Chung. “The lessons that will be shared by our Sports Envoys – communication, teamwork, resilience, inclusion, and conflict resolution – are essential for leadership development, community building, equality, and peace. The U.S. Sports Envoy program is a testament to our belief that sports can be a powerful tool in promoting peace and unity.”
SJB Colombo District MP Mujibur Rahuman in parliament demanded to know from the government the reasons for CEB suspending the leave of all its employees until further notice from Thursday.
MP Rahuman said that the CEB has got an acting General Manager anew and the latter yesterday morning issued a circular suspending leave of all CEB employees with immediate effect until further notice.
“We demand that Minister Kanchana Wijesekera should explain this to the House. This circular was issued while this debate on the new Electricity Amendment Bill was pending. There are many who oppose this Bill. The Minister must tell parliament the reason for the urge to cancel the leave of CEB employees,” the MP said.However, Speaker Mahinda Yapa Abeywardena prevented Minister Wijesekera responding to the query and said that the matter raised by MP Rahuman was not relevant.
The Chartered Institute of Personnel Management (CIPM) successfully concluded the 8th Annual CIPM Symposium, which took place on 31st May 2024. Themed “Nurturing the Human Element—Redefining HRM in a Rapidly Changing World,” the symposium underscored the pivotal role of human resource management (HRM) in today’s dynamic global landscape. Since its inception in 1959, CIPM has been dedicated to advancing the HR profession through education, professional development, and advocacy, solidifying its position as Sri Lanka’s leading professional body for HRM.
Ken Vijayakumar, the President of the CIPM, graced the occasion as the chief guest. The symposium commenced with the welcome address by the Chairperson, Prof. Arosha Adikaram, followed by the Web Launch of the Symposium Proceedings and Abstract Book by the CIPM President. The event featured distinguished addresses, including a speech by Chief Guest Ken Vijayakumar, President of CIPM, and an address by Guest of Honor Shakthi Ranatunga, Chief Operating Officer of MAS Holdings Pvt. Ltd., Sri Lanka.
The symposium also featured an inspiring keynote address by Prof. Mario Fernando, Professor of Management and Director of the Centre for Cross Cultural Management (CCCM) at the University of Wollongong, Australia.
Vote of Thanks of the inauguration session was delivered by Dr. Dillanjani Weeratunga, Symposium Co-chair.
The symposium served as a comprehensive platform for researchers to present their findings across a wide range of critical topics in HRM. These included Cultural Diversity and Inclusion, Talent Development and Retention, Ethical Leadership and Corporate Social Responsibility, Adapting to Technological Advancements, Mental Health and Well-being at Work, Global Workforce Challenges, Employee Empowerment, and Reskilling and Upskilling.
The plenary session was led by Prof. Wasantha Rajapakse. Certificates were awarded to the best paper presenters during the valedictory session, followed by a vote of thanks delivered by Kamani Perera, Manager of Research and Development.
The annual symposium of CIPM was a truly inclusive event, attracting a diverse audience that spanned undergraduates, graduates, working professionals, research scholars and lecturers. This widespread interest highlights the symposium’s significance in the field of HRM, offering a unique opportunity for everyone to network and learn from scholarly brains.The CIPM International Research Symposium was sponsored by Hambantota International Port, Sri Lanka Institute of Information Technology (SLIIT), E B Creasy & Co. PLC, and Print Xcel Company.
US sports envoys to Lanka to champion youth development
Rahuman questions sudden cancellation of leave of CEB employees
