Doubtful if public is concerned at all: GMOA

• People seem to forget to follow health guidelines and attention to the virus is on the decline

By Chaturanga Samarawickrama   

Government Medical Officers’ Association (GMOA) yesterday said the risk of the coronavirus is gradually increasing though it is doubtful whether the public is concerned about the virus at all.  

 Addressing the media, GMOA General Committee Member Dr. Prasad Kolambage said different genetically modified COVID variants have already been identified in this country.   

There is a risk of an increase in the number of COVID positive cases with the identification of new COVID variants from different parts of the country, Dr. Kolambage said.   

Therefore, it is compulsory to take immediate action to increase the number of PCR tests and Rapid Antigen Tests (RATs) conducted in a day while streamlining the process of identifying the positive patients by the Health Ministry, he said.   “People used to rely only on the vaccination programme but it is doubtful if other preventive measures are in progress. People seem to forget to follow health guidelines and attention to the virus is on the decline. Attention should be drawn to people who have already been vaccinated and how their immunity reacts to the virus. Studies should be done on protection from vaccines. If we do not receive the expected protection from the vaccines, it would be a major problem,” he said.   

Therefore, we should not rely only on the vaccine and should take other precautionary measures to prevent getting infected with the virus, Dr. Kolambage added.