brand logo

No scientific surveillance of Covid in SL: Lab technologists

19 Apr 2021

Sri Lanka has no Covid-19 scientific surveillance, which involves monitoring the spread of the disease in order to identify the patterns of progression for the application of preventive measures, Sri Lanka Association of Government Medical Laboratory Technologists (SLAGMLT) President Ravi Kumudesh alleged yesterday (18). “According to comprehensive laboratory testing data, 103,640 cases were reported in total up to yesterday. However, epidemiological data issued last morning shows only 96,439 cases,” Kumudesh said. He also alleged that attempts are being made to show a decrease in Covid-19 cases by decreasing polymerase chain reaction (PCR) tests. “On 10 April, 412 cases were reported from 8,000 PCR tests. However, on 14 April, 4,074 PCR tests were conducted, which resulted in 151 cases. On 17 April, the total number of PCR tests conducted was 6,000 and 357 cases were reported,” Kumudesh said. “These statistics clearly show that the cases decrease when the tests are decreased. The health authorities have no scientific surveillance and if this goes further Sri Lanka will be in huge trouble.” However, Ministry of Health Chief Epidemiologist Dr. Sudath Samaraweera, speaking to The Morning, said that laboratory testing data and epidemiological data could be different due to duplicate and synchronised data.  “Epidemiology data is more accurate since we evaluate them,” he added.      


More News..