Combat with COVID-19 Pandemic by DMC Sri Lanka.pptx

1. COVID-19 Pandemic
Response by the Disaster Management
Center
Prepared by
Pradeep Kodippili,
MSc (Merit-DAMM) & BSc in Agric (special) Hons
Deputy Director and the Media Spokesmen
Disaster Management Center
Ministry of Disaster Management
Sri Lanka

2. Strategic considerations during a pandemic
• Health will be predominantly impacted, pandemics raise challenges across all sectors of
government
and society and necessitate a whole-of -government response
• Business continuity and surge planning within each agency are critical.
• Public health measures remain effective in reducing the impacts of disease spread; some may be
contentious (e.g. event cancellation, public gatherings, school closures)
• Some public health measures that may have community support are not supported by evidence,
depending on when they are applied (e.g. wearing masks)
• Epidemic may coincide with climate, and may have multiple waves expected.
• Relations – diversity of views and different experiences as the virus spreads, but a need to achieve
national consistency
• Disease spread is uneven
• Disproportionate impact on high density population areas
• May occur later in rural/regional areas
• Institutions are vulnerable (e.g. corrective centers, residential care facilities)
• People with pre-existing health conditions will be the most impacted

3. Strategic considerations during a pandemic with aspect of
disaster Management
• Monsoon and extreme weather conditions.
• Evacuations and safety center management
• Essential services.
• Early warnings
• To raise awareness of the mechanism to respond to and manage the COVID-19
Pandemic.
• To review preparedness for a high impact Pandemic with focus on evaluating the critical
functions and ability to ensure business continuity.
• To provide an opportunity to discuss and explore key issues, on real life events.
• To identify strengths and areas needing improvement with regards to the Pandemic
response

4. Actions taken
• Activated call center 117.
• Coordinated essential services
• Maintained the safety of the DMC staff
• PPEs and Essential items were provided to the quarantine centers.
• Prepared a guideline for the Monsoon activities with the health sector.
• Produced more than 200,000 posters for the community awareness.
• Run 24 x 7 DDMCUs around the country.
• Awareness through the Web and other social networks.
• Member of the Presidential task force.
• Situation Reports on Covid-19

5. Continuation of COVID – 19 information center
117 Call Center
• Total of 122,000 calls were received during the reporting period
• Collected public information of immigrants and traced them in order to
quarantine if needed and provided instructions to potential suspects of COVID-
19 continued.
• Reporting mechanism continued to obtain District / Local level information
on COVID-19 cases (home quarantine and hospital etc and tracing of the
suspected persons)
• Call Center of the DMC (117) continued to function as the National
Information and Coordination Center for the Corona outbreak with the health
sector, military and police together.

6. Preparation of COVID – 19 Daily Situation
Reports
• Implementation of institutional guidelines for COVID-19 continued.
• District based information compiled to a detailed report on disaster
response actions. District level information tabulated with daily
situation reports.
• Periodical meeting with Presidential Task Force Members, Ministry of
Health, DMC and District/Divisional Secretariats conducted
continuously.
• All District Disaster Management Coordination Units prioritized to
work round the clock in support of COVID-19 response coordinating
with all relevant district stakeholders continued.
• Updated District Operation plans to take necessary measures on the
corona outbreak risk in respect of all districts.

7. Safety of the working staff and contingency
planning.
• Continuously providing masks and surgical gloves for DDMCU’s.
• Coordinated dry ration for needy families under the patronage of
Fundamental Rights and other Rights Organization continuously.
• Continuously coordinating with Sathosa and other Super Market
chains to provide priority for ration purchases from outlets for
essential service workers.
• Distributed Personnel Protection Equipment (PPE) disinfectants
and sanitizers for District Disaster Management Units (DDMCUs),
117 call center and Emergency Operation Center of DMC.

8. Awareness on COVID-19 prevention and
management
• District DM units under District Secretariats were further
provided more printed materials (Posters, Stickers and leaflets) on
COVID-19 prevention for staff and community awareness and
awareness programs on going.
• Continues update of the website carried out on COVID-19 with all
related information.
• Awareness materials and COVID-19 Prevention protocols
disseminated among DMC partner stakeholders – Departments,
Institutions, UN, I/NGOs, Private Sector continuously.
• Promoted Social media campaign on COVID-19 prevention and
management especially related to the Sinhala-Tamil new year

9. Preparedness activities and operational planning
for South-West Monsoon during COVID Outbreak
• Discussions were held with health authorities to develop guideline to manage safety centers
during disaster in the COVID context
• Preparedness and response plans are being drawn up as a proactive measure for the emergency
response and early recovery arrangements focusing high risk areas continued especially for the
Safe Center Management.
• Developed district specific guideline and planning template and circulated among 9 Districts
prone to SWM
• Conducted preparedness discussion among government partners such as Health, Food,
Transport, Public Administration, Local authorities.
• Planning District level awareness campaign towards end of April on Monsoon preparedness
together with health authorities and other stakeholders.
• Developing the GIS dash board for the planning for SWM in relation to the COVID situation
• Prepared Emergency Response and Preparedness plan with guidelines and sent to Colombo,
Gampaha, Kalutara, Galle, Matara, Puttalam, Rathnapura, Kegalle and Hambanthota District
Disaster Management units.

10. Coordination and planning with preparedness
activities for COVID-19 with NGOs, UN Agencies
and Private Sector
• Continuously arranged Food item distribution coordination (Biscuits, Margarine,
Vegetables and other food items) to COVID quarantine centers.
• Continual of SME support and early recovery options were discussed with the
Chamber of Commerce.
• Continual of the coordination with 25 District officers and District Secretaries for
the continuation of essential services.
• COVID-19 early recovery strategies for private sector and other establishments
been discussed for business continuity and opportunities. Change management
and the new norm working conditions being continuously discussed.
• Devised a plan to get support from UN and other INGOs for SWM preparation in
the COVID situation
• Further managed to provide knowhow and standards in respect of PPE for local
apparel manufacturers and private sector donors to produce and deliver in
support of government efforts.

11. Functioning of Emergency Operation
Center (EOC) of DMC 24x7
• Coordination Response activities at District levels continued.
• Continuously responding to the community requirements with the
assistance of the Tri Forces, Police and Health Sector.
• EOC coordinates other disaster events such as bush-fire, dry-spell water
distribution and high winds incidents around the country.
• High wind blown over 6 DS areas of the Puttalam District and
immediate response activities coordinated through the Emergency
Operation center of the DMC. 1083 Houses damaged and 150 tarpaulin
sheets distributed among the affected communities and coordinated
NDRSC to provide the compensations through the National Insurance
Trust fund. Additional staff allocated to the Puttalam District to manage
the situation.

14. •Thank You