NOCPCO Meeting on COVID-19 Status Quo Listens to Regional Heads

In the wake of detection of more and more COVID-19 positive cases, one more review meeting, held this morning (9) at the National Operation Centre for Prevention of COVID- 19 Outbreak (NOCPCO) at Rajagiriya, together with all health authorities and medical experts re-visited the status quo, transmission patterns of the deadly virus and evaluated emergency arrangements, PCR test procedures, existing strategies and their repercussions, co-operation between those responsible authorities and new cases/inmates in hospitals, ICCs and the state of Quarantine Centres (QCs), etc.

The round table discussion was presided by General Shavendra Silva, Head of the NOCPCO, Chief of Defence Staff and Commander of the Army, Major General Sanjaya Munasinghe, Secretary to Health Ministry, Dr Asela Gunawardena, Director General of Health Services and General Daya Ratnayake (Retd), Chairman, Sri Lanka Ports Authority (SLPA). In addition, a few more Medical Specialists participated in the discussions.

General Shavendra Silva presenting latest updates on new developments evaluated the status quo in to and pointed out the increase in death rates and the detection of positive cases of about 2000 per day on average. He pointed out that there are more than 19,000 positive cases in the country as of now and told the attendees that the government's dual approach is to manage the spread of the virus and run the country without a total lockdown, although isolation procedures continue unabated as required.

As regards the vaccination, he said that the WHO in response to HE's request has promised more support for supply of necessary vaccines after Presidential discussions. Mechanism for vaccination is to be re-launched as there are three types of recognized vaccines, now available in the country. He also told the attendees that Colombo, Gampaha and Kalutara Districts are the regions with the highest number of positive cases and instructions have already been issued to all ground commanders, General Officers Commanding and Security Force Commanders to facilitate transport needs, if any medical officer turns to them for transport assistance to carry patients.

To have better coordination and to address ground issues, if any, the NOCPCO meeting at the same occasion through online Zoom technology got in touch with several Regional Directors of Health Services (RDHS) and Medical Officers of Health (MOH) where authorities interacted with them. Some of them got their concerns clarified through online interactions and sought solutions to their issues. Director General Health Services also contributed to the discussion and underlined the need to revise existing health guidelines and issue fresh ones shortly.

Source: www.army.lk