Health professionals want random testing capacity to be increased

• Those undetected patients were asymptomatic and thus, they neither sought treatment nor testing   

By Sheain Fernandopulle   

Since there is a possibility for more COVID-19 patients undetected in the community, it is absolutely necessary to increase the number of random PCR and Antigen Tests in the country, Government Medical Officers Forum (GMOF) Secretary Dr. Kamal A. Perera stressed yesterday.   

 He said those undetected patients were asymptomatic and thus, they neither sought treatment nor testing.   
“It is clear that the number of daily COVID cases is higher than what is being reported because there are undetected patients in the society who do not show symptoms,” he said.  “Therefore, it is of utmost importance to carry out further random PCR and Antigen Tests in order to detect such patients,” he reiterated.   

Dr. Perera also stated that people were so negligent that they failed to follow health guidelines and health rules.   
At present, the number of PCR and Antigen Tests conducted per day in Sri Lanka ranged from 2,000 to 7,000, he said.   

According to the data on Health Promotion Bureau, a total number of 5,866 and 3,772 PCR tests and Antigen Tests were carried out respectively on Monday (18).   

However, the Health Ministry had articulated that the number of Antigen Tests  was fairly higher than what  was being reported per day.

• At present, the number of PCR and Antigen Tests conducted per day in Sri Lanka ranged from 2,000 to 7,000