IHP again insists on expanded testing and adhering to full protocols for at least six weeks

By Rathindra Kuruwita

The government should expand testing capacity significantly to make the best out of the lockdown and to control the spread of COVID-19 in the months to come, Executive Director of the Institute for Health Policy (IHP), Dr. Ravi Rannan-Eliya said yesterday.

Dr. Eliya told The Island that ten days of lock down wasn’t adequate and without a significant expansion of testing any benefit accruing from it would not be sustained. “I worry a lot because this lockdown comes after considerable political and religious pressure. I don’t think the government has accepted that taking action is less damaging to the economy than non-action. So, there will be pressure to lift it as soon as possible,” he said.

What hindered the increase of testing was not only any lack of political will, but health sector decision makers had shown little interest in it, the IHP Executive Director said.

“In the meantime, like in the last lockdown, I greatly fear that health authorities will do nothing to address the abysmal testing capacity we now have. Our health experts continue to sing the same song that it is adequate or it is too late to do anything, so why bother,” he said.

Dr. Eliya added that the Delta variant could not be controlled by lockdowns alone, and that health officials should strictly make use of all tools available for at least six weeks.

“Putting all our eggs in a lockdown and vaccine basket will not work,” he said.