• Health Ministry dismisses false claims on PCR testing in SL 
• Number of PCR tests reduced due to lesser number of first contacts

By Sheain Fernandopulle  

Though the COVID-19 situation has not yet reached the ‘fully controlled status’, the situation has relatively come under control, Chief Epidemiologist Dr. Sudath Samaraweera said yesterday.   

 He told the Daily Mirror that nowadays, the country reported around 200 COVID cases while it was around 800 sometime ago.   

“If we analyse the trend, there is a control status at present though the situation is not fully under control.”   

Meanwhile, the Chief Epidemiologist told a media conference at the Health Promotion Bureau that the decrease in PCR tests was due to a lesser number of first contacts and added they were not hiding data related to COVID-19.   

He said conducting lesser amounts of PCR tests deliberately means committing suicide.  

“We have not decreased the number of PCR tests. We have to bring down the number of PCR tests due to lesser amount of first contacts,” he said.  
However, Dr Samaraweera said they had not decreased the number of random PCR tests in the country. 

 
“We have been able to identify patients following random PCR. This becomes evident with the patients detected from the Jaffna area. We were able to prevent it from leading to a bigger cluster,” he said.   

Meanwhile, he said they would be conducting antigen tests targeting employees leaving the economic zones during the festive season.  

“This will be done to prevent the COVID virus from spreading to the villages,” he added.   

• antigen tests will be conducted targeting employees leaving the economic zones during the festive season

Avoid Pillow fights, tug of war

• Health authorities encourage people to engage in customs and traditions at home 

By Sheain Fernandopulle  

The Health Ministry said it was not appropriate to engage in New Year games like pillow fights, tug of war as they carry the risk of spreading the COIVD-19 virus, Dr. Susie Perera, Deputy Director General, Public Health Services II, Ministry of Health said yesterday.   

  She also recommended not to hold musical shows as it would also carry the risk of spreading the virus.  

“The health authorities encourage people to engage in customs and traditions at home rather than doing them collectively,” she said. 

 
“When organizing Avurudu festivals, it is up to the organizers to make sure that the events are held under strict adherence to health guidelines. If any game or event carry any sort of risk, we urge organizers not to carry on with such events,” she added.