o Push for random testing of individuals o Govt. urged to set up a lab in each district By Maheesha Mudugamuwa The Government Medical Officers’ Association (GMOA) yesterday (14) urged the authorities to continue PCR tests even though there has been a reduction in the number of positive Covid-19 cases reported in the country as the country is still not out of danger. The GMOA made this observation in response to reports that said the health authorities are looking at reducing the number of PCR tests due to a decline in the number of Covid-19-positive patients. GMOA Assistant Secretary Dr. Naveen De Zoysa told The Morning that the PCR tests should be continued on the first contacts of the Covid-19-positive patients along with random testing in order to make sure there are no infected persons freely moving about in society. “Even though the country has re-opened for economic activities, it is still important to conduct PCR tests,” he said, pointing out that aggressive tests are a must for the country to prevent creating new clusters. Meanwhile, Sri Lanka Association of Government Medical Laboratory Technologists (SlagMLT) President Ravi Kumudesh urged the health authorities to establish at least one laboratory in each district to conduct PCR tests. “Over 90% of the laboratory services for PCR has been concentrated in Colombo; even if a person suspects having (or are showing) Covid-19 symptoms, (that person) has to travel a long way to get it tested. Therefore, the more appropriate solution to prevent the further spread is to at least set up new laboratories that can conduct PCR tests to avoid the need of travelling,” he told The Morning. He also highlighted the importance of providing medical laboratory technicians (MLTs) to conduct one of all the suitable tests approved by the international bodies to test for Covid-19. However, responding to the proposal made by SlagMLT President Kumudesh, GMOA Assistant Secretary Dr. Zoysa stressed that deciding on which test should be conducted to confirm Covid-19 patients is a responsibility of medical officials specialised in the field and that the MLTs couldn’t decide on which is appropriate or not.