By Maheesha Mudugamuwa Concerns were raised by health experts over the lack of testing conducted in the country, with the drastic hike of Covid-19-positive patients reported in India. Medical Research Institute (MRI) Director Dr. Jayaruwan Bandara said the number of tests conducted in the country was not enough and should be increased. “At present, we are conducting only around 2,000 tests but when comparing the number of tests conducted in India, we need to conduct more,” he said, adding that the methods of testing at present should also be developed. “Even if we are conducting the tests in full capacity, we could only conduct around 3,000 tests,” Dr. Bandara said. He also stressed that the testing methods at present were very primitive and the Government was still looking for necessary funding to purchase advanced technology. When asked whether the country is at a risk with the increasing number of Covid-19 patients reported in India, the MRI Director stressed that even though there was no direct threat, there was an indirect threat at present. When it comes to Covid-19, it is very important to identify the infected and noninfected persons first. It is important to increase the testing capacity and in case there is an increase in the number of Covid-19-positive cases, the country has not developed the testing capacity over the past eight months, Dr. Bandara stressed. However, health authorities have assured that there was no community spread at present in Sri Lanka and therefore, the threat of the virus is at a low level despite there being a risk faced with the continuous reporting of positive patients among those who are returning to Sri Lanka. The authorities also requested the public to take necessary precautions to avoid any possible contact, such as wearing face masks in public places and following all health guidelines issued by the Ministry of Health. Meanwhile, speaking to The Sunday Morning, Government Medical Officers’ Association (GMOA) Secretary Dr. Senal Fernando said that strict precautions should be taken by the public despite there being no social transmission reported at present. According to him, strict measures should also be taken to protect the staff of ports and aviation and quarantine centres in the country that are directly connecting with the possible Covid-19 cases, to stop any kind of leakage to society. “The virus is still within the country and we are managing it in a good way at present. But in Singapore, there is a second wave of Covid-19 and therefore, the country should take every possible measure to protect the public and the public should be vigilant and follow all health guidelines,” Dr. Fernando said.