35,323 PCR tests conducted so far: Dr. Jasinghe

By Sandun A. Jayasekera   

 The Director-General of Health Services (DGHS) Dr Anil Jasinghe said yesterday the Medical Research Institute (MRI) in Borella, teaching hospitals and university laboratories have conducted a total of 35,323 PCR tests since March 18.  

He added that the increased number of Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) tests had contributed to the detection of Covid-19 victims rapidly and thereby control the pandemic. “I think the tests conducted at the MRI are 100% correct and most reliable,” he added.   

Meanwhile, over 500 civilians alone have been released by Saturday from quarantine centres countrywide, the National Operation Centre for Prevention of Covid-19 Outbreak (NOCPCO) said.   
According to the NOCPCO, a total of 533 individuals, who underwent quarantining at Army-managed Punani (75), Kandakadu (62), Vidattapalei (298) Iyakachchi (80), Diyatalawa (05) Hotel Dolphin (01), Navy-managed Nipuna Boossa (12) Quarantine Centres, left for their residences Saturday with Quarantine Certificates after having PCR tests on them.   
Among the returnees were 378 residents of Keselwatta area in Colombo who completed the quarantine process at the Army managed Vidattapalei and Iyakachchi quarantine centres in Jaffna.   

Army with the assistance of Police provided transport facilities in 33 vehicles for the returnees to go home. The Army also provided them with a short meal to use at the destination, lunch and drinking water bottles for their journey home.   

By Saturday, a total of 6,299 quarantined individuals from tri service-managed Quarantine Centres have left for their homes. As of now, 4,428 persons are still in quarantine in 39 countrywide centres, run by tri services, the NOCPCO said.  A group of 272 Sri Lankans from Melbourne returned home yesterday on board a SriLankan Airlines flight.   

On arrival, all passengers and their luggage were disinfected by a team of Sri Lanka Air Force personnel and referred to a 14 day spell of quarantine.