Govt. purposely refraining from conducting PCR tests: Rathnapriya

National Trade Union Front Chairman Saman Rathnapriya yesterday alleged that the Government was purposely refraining from conducting PCR tests where the number of PCR tests had reduced by 50 percent when compared to the number of PCR tests conducted in February.

He told a news conference that the number of patients reported these days had reduced due to the decrease in the number of PCR tests.

He pointed out that reduction in the number of Covid patients at present was not a satisfactory situation and added that more Covid patients may be there in the society without being detected.

Mr. Rathnapriya said about 23,000 PCR tests had been conducted in February this year where around 3,000 to 3,500 patients were detected.

“Number of PCR tests has decreased by half now. Only 12,039 PCR tests were conducted on July 19, 10,436 on July 20, 12,218 on July 21 and 11,302 on July 22.As the number of PCR tests have decreased, the number of patients have also decreased. It is not something to be pleased about,” he said and added that family members of the detected patients are also not subject to PCR tests at the moment.

He said PCR tests are not done in hospitals as nurses have refrained from conducting PCR tests due to their trade union issues and pointed out that Covid patients in hospitals are not detected due to this.

“The Government and the Health Authorities have purposely refrained from conducting PCR tests.this may be because they cannot face the overcrowding hospital capacity. Decrease in the PCR tests have reduced the total number of active patients to about 22,000 whereas it was over 30,000 earlier.this reduction may be a temporary relief,” he said.(Ajith Siriwardana)