ABSTRACT
Older adults are at a higher risk of dying from COVID-19 and the risk is much higher in low and middle-income countries. A recent publication by Lloyd-Sherlock, P. et al raise four concerns that need to be considered when developing public health and clinical responses to COVID-19 to protect older adults in LMICs. This paper applies these concerns to the context of Sri Lanka and provides simple and immediate measures to proactively prevent the spread of COVID-19 among older adults in Sri Lanka. These measures include but does not limit to: 1) considering the difficulties health care systems may face in the case of a COVID-19 surge and taking immediate preventative actions to limit the spread in the country; 2) implementing practices in LTCs to prevent the spread among LTC residents and staff; 3) proactively including older adults especially those who are dependent and from remote areas in government responses; and 4) taking into consideration family dynamics that are unique to Sri Lanka and providing support to reduce exposure through government and other available resources. Sri Lanka being a LMIC and therefore more vulnerable must take immediate actions while there is still time to minimize the impacts COVID-19 could potentially have on the country.