PCR tests to be carried out islandwide - DGHS

By Sandun A. Jayasekera

In order to determine if there are more COVID-19 patients in the country, the number of tests conducted would be increased islandwide, Director-General of Health Services (DGHS) Dr. Anil Jasinghe said.   

 He said this at the National Operation Centre for the Prevention of COVID-19 media briefing yesterday.   
He said that currently the Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) tests are being carried out in many hospitals across the island to identify COVID-19 infections, adding that the Rapid Tests will be validated and with the receipt of the Rapid Test Kits these testing would be carried out in a broader manner.   

Dr. Jasinghe also noted that two telephone hotlines have been introduced, 1390 and 1399 so that those suspected to have Coronavirus could call these numbers and seek medical advice from their homes without having to go to a hospital. He said that it is the responsibility of the public to cooperate with the efforts taken by the government to contain the spread of the Coronavirus and maintain distance. He also urged the public not to hide their symptoms and to seek medical help if Covid-19 symptoms appear.   

Meanwhile, Atlas Axillia PLC, a subsidiary of the Hemas Group, has gifted a fully homegrown Automated Guided Vehicle (AGV) robot to the Homagama Base Hospital, to assist medical personnel in the remote monitoring and care of patients affected by the Coronavirus.   

The company announced that the prototype - a first of its kind in Sri Lanka - is currently undergoing live tests at the Homagama Base Hospital, where the Atlas team behind the invention is working closely with hospital staff to understand and address any functional concerns. The company will subsequently make the technology of this prototype available for select individuals or organizations that wish to produce more units to fight the pandemic.   
Dr. Indika Jagoda, the Regional Director of Health Services, Colombo lauded the launch of the prototype AGV. “It is truly remarkable that a Sri Lankan company has developed a home grown robotic medical assistant. The advancement of technological development is vital in the fight against this pandemic. The ready access to patients that healthcare workers have without putting themselves at risk, thanks to the AGV robot, is truly a massive advantage in the fight against COVID-19,” he said.   

The AGV can carry food and medicine to patients and perform basic medical check-ups, such as checking temperatures. It also enables doctors to monitor patients remotely, while having conversations with them through the cameras mounted on it. In addition to this, the AGV can charge itself using a wireless charging port, further reducing its physical proximity to healthcare workers. The use of the AGV will automate patient monitoring, thereby enabling healthcare workers to apply their expertise in managing the crisis more efficiently and to stay safe while saving lives.   

Speaking on the initiative, Asitha Samaraweera, CEO of Atlas Axillia said, “I am extremely proud of our team for creating a solution to address one of the challenges our medical personnel are facing today in the country with respect to infectious diseases such as Coronavirus. We humbly share this invention to further the national cause to effectively combat COVID-19. We are gifting the prototype to the Homagama Hospital.