Kandakadu is new COVID-19 cluster; warns GMOA

Colombo (News 1st); The Government Medical Officer's Association said the Treatment & Rehabilitation Centre in Kandakadu is a new cluster for COVID-19 cases in Sri Lanka.

The GMOA warned there is a high-risk COVID-19 spreading in the community adding its warnings of a possible second wave were not taken seriously.

"Technical Committee chaired by the Director-General of Health Services which is vested with the task of making decisions to prevent COVID-19 has not met for over a month", said Dr. Shenal Fernando, the Secretary of the Government Medical Officer's Association.

The GMOA said it is of paramount importance for the Technical Committee to meet and take decisions in order to prevent a second wave adding

the risk of a second wave of COVID-19 is high when the guidelines which have been issued are not followed by the general public as well as politicians.

It added the number of PCR tests must be increased in the country, in order to completely understand if there is community transmission in Sri Lanka adding the Health Ministry must meet the maximum capacity of PCR testing.

Further, the GMOA called for aggressive testing by contact tracing all those who had contact with a suspect COVID-19 case and subjecting them to PCR tests and necessary treatment.

The Government Medical Officer's Association said even if a test turns negative, testing must continue at regular intervals.

The Government Medical Officer's Association urged the general public to follow proper health habits and guidelines in order to prevent the spread of COVID-19.