Covid Task Force acting on political needs rather than health needs: Nalinda Jayatissa

Former JVP MP Dr. Nalinda Jayatissa today alleged that the Covid Task Force has been irresponsible and was acting on political needs rather than on health needs.

He told a news conference that the Covid Task Force has even been unable to gather the correct information with regard to the pandemic.

"The Covid Task Force should be headed by the Health sector. The President recently accused the head of the Epidemiology Unit of hiding statistics. If this Task Force has been unable to gather the correct data on the pandemic, what has it been doing?," he asked.

Dr. Jayatissa said if the Task Force was reducing the number of PCR tests and hiding real Covid situation in the country, it means that it was acting on political needs rather than on health needs.

"The number of daily PCR tests had been reduced to 14,000 three days ago. They are showing that the number of patients has reduced by decreasing the daily PCR tests. When there were about 3,500 cases, more than 28,000 PCR tests had been done. Now, it has been reduced by 50% and showing that the positive cases have come down," he said and added that what should be done is to increase the number of PCR tests to ascertain the spread of the virus and take necessary steps accordingly.

He said the number of random PCR tests should also be increased as the new Delta variant and Delta+ are reported to have been found in Sri Lanka.

Dr. Jayatissa said that was why a Covid Task Force headed by the health sector was vital in taking decisions.

“The Director General of Health Services and Chief Epidemiologist were helpless. They have had to implement the political decisions of the Task Force and justify its decisions before the media,” he said. (Ajith Siriwardana)