Covid Task Force acting only on political needs

• The Covid Task Force should be headed by the Health sector
• They are showing that the number of patients had reduced by decreasing the daily PCR tests conducted

By Ajith Siriwardana   

Former JVP MP Dr. Nalinda Jayatissa yesterday 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 had 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 was unable to gather the exact 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 the real Covid situation in the country, it meant 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 had reduced by decreasing the daily PCR tests conducted. When there were about 3,500 cases, more than 28,000 PCR tests had been done.However, now it has been reduced by 50 percent and it is being shown that the positive cases have become less,” he said and added that what should have been done was 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+ were 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 had to implement the political decisions of the Task Force and justify its decisions before the media,”  he said.

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