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Lowest PCRs for June on Saturday

28 Jun 2021

  • 14,100 tests on Saturday, down from 20,500 on Wednesday

  • Gradual decline in tests and cases from 24 June onwards

By Pamodi Waravita   The lowest number of daily polymerase chain reaction (PCR)4 tests conducted in the month of June in Sri Lanka was reported this weekend, with a mere 14,110 PCR tests being conducted on Saturday (26). According to the statistics on the Health Promotion Bureau website, this continues a gradual decline in the number of PCR tests conducted since 23 March, which was two days after the country relaxed travel restrictions on 21 June. On both 21 and 22 June, 18,764 tests were conducted, and this number increased to 20,577 tests on 23 June. However, since then, a gradual decrease can be observed, with 19,663 tests being conducted on 24 June, 17,552 on 25 June, and 14,110 on 26 June. Therefore, between 23 and 26 June, the number of PCR tests being done in the country has reduced by 6,467 tests. Similarly, the number of positive Covid-19 cases has also declined in this period, with the number of daily new cases being lower than 2,000 since 24 June, but being higher than 2,000 up to 23 June. A total of 1,825 cases were reported on 26 Saturday. Medical Laboratory Technologists Association President Ravi Kumudesh warned that the decline in PCR testing would lead to a repetition of the “mistakes” made in March of this year, which gave rise to the deadly third wave of the pandemic in the island. “In the past seven days, the number of PCR tests have reduced below the general 55,000 tests. According to the current spread of the virus, at least 50,000 tests must be done per day. This reduction of tests is a repetition of the same mistake that was done in March as well. It is not possible to stop the rapid spread of the virus by doing only around 7,000 tests per day,” Kumudesh told the media yesterday (27). Kumudesh also alleged that the number of Rapid Antigen Tests (RAT) conducted at hospitals has also been reduced. “Due to the incorrect guidance of the Ministry of Health, this has been drastically reduced. Without RATs, it is impossible to do surgeries or emergency treatments. Authorities did not heed our calls to provide mobile laboratories. Why is the Ministry of Health (MOH) so slow in its work when it receives funds from so many places?” questioned Kumudesh.


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