The National Operations Centre for Prevention of COVID- 19 Outbreak (NOCPCO) has requested the private hospital sector to streamline the PCR capacity, prices and its test procedures. NOCPCO Head and Army Commander Lieutenant General Shavendra Silva said such charges and practices have been carried out without informing the NOCPCO or having any guidelines to that effect. “However, all private sector hospitals are expected to conduct such tests at the Katunayake and Biyagama Garment factories under the supervision of the BOI and co-ordination effected by Navy troops where results of those PCR tests could be known within 24 hours. A common rate for all PCR tests should be maintained,” he said. Army.lk said the discussion was headed by Army Commander Shavendra Silva and Dr. Asela Gunawardana, Director General of Health Services. In addition, Deputy Director General Laboratory, Dr. Saman Ratnayake, representatives from Nawaloka Hospital, Asiri Hospital, Lanka Hospital and Durdans Hospital participated in the discussions. The meeting at first wanted to know the capacity of private sector hospitals to conduct PCR tests on daily basis and the charges for PCR tests. In addition, all factories were requested to conduct population sample tests, at least among 1% of its workforce in order to avoid any imminent eruption of new clusters in future, Army.lk said.