* 200,000 test kits to be distributed among pvt. hospitals * Primarily to be used to screen BOI and EDB workers By Maheesha Mudugamuwa As a measure to increase the screening capacity of Covid-19-infected persons to control the spread of the virus and ensure the smooth flow of the country's economic activities, the first batch of rapid antigen test kits were flown into the country yesterday in a special SriLankan Airlines flight, The Morning learnt. The first consignment of 200,000 rapid antigen test kits are to be used for the screening of Board of Investment (BOI) and Export Development Board (EDB) workers. It is learnt that the first consignment was brought down by the private local pharmaceutical company which is the agent to SD BioSensor and Abbott and Bio that have been validated by the World Health Organisation (WHO) to manufacture antigen test kits. The consignment was flown into the country from South Korea. The test kits of the first consignment are to be distributed among several private hospitals,  namely Asiri Group, Nawaloka Hospitals, Hemas Hospitals, and the Red Cross, the local private pharmaceutical company said. The second consignment of antigen test kits is due next Sunday. Meanwhile, private hospitals around the country are waiting for the guidelines to be issued by the Ministry of Health to begin the rapid antigen test for Covid-19, according to Association of Private Hospitals and Nursing Homes (APHNH) President Dr. Lakith Peiris. He told The Morning that the technicians have already received the required training and all hospitals are ready to conduct testing as soon as the guidelines are issued. When asked whether the hospitals that are allowed to conduct PCR tests would do the rapid antigen test, Dr. Peiris noted that since the test was easy to handle by any hospital, there were no restrictions. In the meantime, when contacted by The Morning, the Medical Supplies’ Division (MSD) of the Ministry of Health noted that the consignment of rapid antigen test kits ordered by the MSD would be expected on Saturday (7), adding that once the consignment is received, the test kits would be distributed among all hospitals.