The Government Medical Officers’ Association (GMOA) has received complaints about certain heads of institutions who defy instructions given by President Gotabaya Rajapaksa and the health authorities on restricting the number of employees permitted to work in offices, GMOA Editor Dr. Haritha Aluthge said.
Some heads of institutions and departments demand all or most employees to report to duty.
In one instance, an employee who was under home quarantine was called for duty. This poses a grave danger to implement Covid-19 control activities.
Dr. Aluthge said that the Rapid Antigen Test is needed for Sri Lanka at present and the GMOA has presented all facts and figures to the health authorities on how, where and when to use it. It cannot be used as a substitute for the PCR test.
The resources (PCR test kits) can be saved to be used only on essential occasions when Rapid Antigen tests are conducted.
The WHO has already issued warnings for the next one-and-a- half months, stating that the number of Covid-19 deaths could double during this period, especially during the winter, he said.
Earlier, it was the elderly who were at risk of dying from Covid-19 but this has now changed, and youth and children are also at risk. Sri Lanka cannot escape the global impact of Covid-19.
The best way to manage the pandemic is by following all health guidelines and refraining from high risk behaviour such as smoking and consuming alcohol, he added.