Lab technologists urge govt. not to try short cuts with Omicron variant

By Rathindra Kuruwita

College of Medical Laboratory Science (CMLS) President Ravi Kumudesh yesterday accused the Health Ministry of trying to mislead the public as regards the Omicron case detected in Sri Lanka.

The Ministry claimed that they had detected the variant in a traveller from South Africa. However the passenger actually came from Nigeria, a country that was not in the banned list of countries, Kumudesh told The Island.

“We have laid a red carpet for Omicron to come here. We have with the help of a PCR test conducted on inbound passengers detected Omicron in a 25-year-old Sri Lankan woman who has returned from Nigeria. She is a resident of Marawila and she doesn’t have any noticeable symptoms. A rapid antigen test conducted yesterday found her negative for COVID-19,” he said.

Kumudesh said that most passengers entering the country were not tested. Thus, any COVID variant could enter the country without detection, he said.

“If anything, this detection proves the importance of on arrival PCR testing. We have sent a letter to the President asking him to test everyone who arrives here from overseas,” he said.

The CMLS President said that the Health Ministry was opposed to testing travellers because they think President Rajapaksa was opposed to testing due to its possible impact on tourism. Kumudesh said that they could conduct a rapid test that caused little inconvenience to travellers.

“We can furnish a report in two hours. The Ministry wants to reduce PCR testing and carryout more rapid antigen testing. However, the rapid antigen test on the person with Omicron came out negative. This is a good example that demonstrates the folly of the Health Ministry policy,” Kumudesh said.

Kumudesh added that the short sighted directives of some senior health officers had ensured that even samples of passengers assumed to have COVID-19 were not sent for gene sequencing.

“There are Health Ministry officials who claim there is nothing to be done about Omicron. If we follow this policy, we will have to go for a lockdown. We must get rid of health officers who are violating the basic tenets of pandemic control. The government must appoint capable persons. There is no point in blaming people in a few weeks later without doing what has to be done today,” he said.

Kumudesh added that government should not only carry out PCR tests on passengers but also test those who entered the country during the past few days. The government should also instruct the Health Ministry to carry out random tests across the country to determine the status of COVID-19 in Sri Lanka, he added.