Increase island-wide PCR tests to 5,000 per day: GMOA

• People should not take the health guidelines for granted as Covid-19 is on the wave in the world

By Sheain Fernandopulle  

In the wake of new Covid-19 cases being reported from the Kandakadu Treatment and Rehabilitation Centre, the Government Medical Officers’ Association (GMOA) yesterday reiterated the health authorities to increase the number of PCR tests in the country.   

GMOA Secretary Dr. Senal Fernando said that only 500-1,600 PCR tests had been done per day for the last two months despite epidemiologists of the Health Ministry recommended 2,500 PCR tests per day.  
“We have been insisting the health ministry to carry out more and more PCR tests in order to properly contain the spread of the virus.  A second wave of the virus is inevitable if at least 5,000 random PCR tests were not carried per day,” he stressed.   

Meanwhile, GMOA Assistant Secretary Dr. Naveen De Soyza told Daily Mirror that people should not take the health guidelines for granted as Covid-19 is on the wave in the world and Sri Lanka is not out of the woods yet.   
Hence, it is absolutely vital to comply with health guidelines like maintaining one-metre distance when engaged in activities outside, Dr. de Zoysa said.  

Referring to the Covid-19 cases being reported from the Kandakadu Treatment and Rehabilitation Centre, Dr. de Zoysa said it should be found out how many prisoners were transferred from the centre to prisons as it might be a risk of spreading the virus.