19 April 2021 10:32 am Views - 1519
According to the official data of the Laboratory Service, the number of COVID-19 patients in the country has surpassed the 100,000 mark by April 3, 2021, Sri Lanka Head of the Association of Government Medical Laboratory Technologists Ravi Kumudesh said.
He said the actual number of COVID-19 patients was reported by April 3 as 1003640.
However, according to the official data issued by the Epidemiology Unit, a total number of COVID patients reported by April 3 was 96000.
"There has been a discrepancy in the official data issued by the Health Ministry for about eight months ago. But the discrapancy was not rectified so far. This error in the official data makes very clear that the Ministry is confused about the statistical expertise on COVID epidemic," Mr. Kumudesh said.
The statements that were made, based on the above COVID results by the Ministry are non-scientific and therefore, those statements could only be considered as a mere statement only, Kumudesh said.
He said, therefore, his association urges the Health Minister to be careful when issuing statements based on false figures.
"The failure for establishing an 'information management system' by the Epidemiology Unit to regulate data relevant to the epidemic had taken even more than a year after the outbreak and it is a serious omission," Ravi Kumudesh added further. (Chaturanga Samarawickrama)