Daily PCR Tests to be increased to 20,000

(FASTNEWS | COLOMBO) – The Cabinet of Ministers approved a proposal by Health Minister Pavithra Wanniarachchi to expedite the purchase of more testing kits and other equipment required to conduct Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) tests in the face of the third wave of the coronavirus in Sri Lanka.

Co-Cabinet Spokesman Plantation Minister Dr.Ramesh Pathirana speaking at this week’s Cabinet media briefing held yesterday said with the discovery of the new COVID variant in Sri Lanka, there is a requirement to conduct more PCR tests.

The Health Ministry said the demand for COVID-19 PCR tests at Government laboratories has increased to 20,000 a day and showing a rising trend.

Minister Pathirana said the best way to prevent the spread of the virus is by vaccination. He said the government is waiting for the approval of the World Health Organization (WHO) for the Chinese COVID-19 vaccine for emergency use and that a considerable amount of doses are available in the country at the moment.

“If the WHO approves, another 600,000 individuals can be vaccinated. The country has already received a consignment of fifteen thousand doses of the Sputnik V from Russia,” he said.