NOCPCO Meeting Reviews Current Developments & Home-bound Quarantine Procedures

One more review meeting of the National Operation Centre for Prevention of COVID- 19 Outbreak (NOCPCO) at Rajagiriya got underway this morning (19) with the participation of the Head, NOCPCO, all health authorities and medical experts with the objective of assessing the status quo with special focus on home-quarantining strategy and the state of Quarantine Centres (QCs), emergency procedures, travel restrictions, etc.

The discussion was presided by General Shavendra Silva, Head of the NOCPCO, Chief of Defence Staff and Commander of the Army, Major General Sanjeewa Munasinghe, Secretary to Health Ministry and Dr Asela Gunawardena, Director General of Health Services. In addition, Medical Specialists also participated in the review discussion.

Head, NOCPCO opined that categorization as Levels 1, 2 & 3 depending on the number of detections in specific areas as well as detailed quarantining procedures, selection of infectees, movement restrictions, etc is needed for operational aspects as more and more cases are being detected at ground level.

Major General Sanjeewa Munasinghe, Secretary to Health Ministry explained how quarantine patients could be categorized as more and more asymptomatic cases are reported. Views were also expressed about the status of affected pregnant women and infectees in the age range of 12-50 years. Matters regarding their willingness for quarantining in the house environment were also taken up for assessment and consideration.

Director General Health Services briefed the meeting on PCR test procedures, conduct of PCR tests at state and private sector hospitals as well as vaccination projects. Medical experts also contributed to the review meeting and proposed specific guidelines.

Source: www.army.lk