President seeks medical experts’ opinion on counting COVID-19 cases

• Govt. to procure more testing kits, doctors recommend strengthening existing quarantine process

President Gotabaya Rajapaksa met with medical experts yesterday to seek expert medical opinions on how to prevent the spread of COVID-19 in the country promptly, the President’s Media Division (PMD) said.  

During the meeting at the Presidential Secretariat, the steps that have been taken by the Government, security forces, and the health sector officials to prevent the spread of COVID-19, as well as the steps that should be taken in the future were discussed at length.

The specialists pointed out the importance of conducting investigations on groups that were in close contact with infected persons and who have had contacts in two stages further.

“Even though there are sufficient COVID-19 test kits available at present, President Rajapaksa instructed the health authorities to take the necessary steps to acquire more test kits in order to face any situation.”

The group of specialist doctors commended the President’s quarantine program, launched with the aim of preventing the spread of the virus.

Doctors said that further strengthening of the existing quarantine process is the most effective approach to prevent the spread of the virus.

The experts stressed the importance of protecting areas where the virus has not spread into. They were of the view that spread of the virus to those areas as a result of travel by people from the affected areas should be stopped.

“The doctors said that the first step is to ensure that everyone stays at home to the maximum extent possible following the ‘Panchayuda’ system. The ‘Panchayuda’ approach includes the use of face masks when leaving the house, avoiding touching the face, maintaining a distance of one meter at all times, and hand washing,” the statement said.

Experts, universities, technology institutions, and individual groups have made a number of discoveries regarding COVID-19. It was also discussed to promptly conduct research into those findings at a professional level.

The President inquired about persons who run high risk of being badly affected by COVID-19, and what measures should be taken to protect these vulnerable groups.

Doctors stated that people with diabetes, asthma, and heart diseases need to be vigilant, and they should take the medication as prescribed by the physicians. They also emphasised the importance of abstaining from smoking. The expert team also pointed out the importance of drinking liquids to maintain the throat’s moisture.

Secretary to the President Dr. P.B. Jayasundara, Chief Adviser to the President Lalith Weeratunga, Secretary to the Ministry of Defence Maj. Gen. (Rtd.) Kamal Gunaratne, Chief of Defence staff and Army Commander Lieutenant General Shavendra Silva, Acting Inspector General of Police C.D. Wickramaratne, Former Governor Dr. Seetha Arambepola, Director General of Health Services Dr. Anil Jasinghe, and specialist doctors Dr. Vajira Senaratne, Dr. Ananda Wijewickrama , Prof. Sarath Jayasinghe, Prof. Arjuna de Silva, Dr. M.C. Weerasinghe, Prof. Neelika Malavige, Dr. Prasad Katulanda, Prof. Vajira Dissanayake, Prof. Ranjani Gamage, Dr. Kumuduni Ranathunga, Dr. Amitha Fernando, Dr. Indika Lanerolle and Dr. Jude Samantha participated at the meeting.