The Academy of Health Professionals says there is a risk of an Omicron wave emerging in the country, as a result of the irregular process to conduct PCR tests to identify COVID-19 patients at the airport.
Speaking to NewsRadio, President Ravi Kumudesh said if health authorities and the government direct attention towards how the individual infected with the Omicron variant was identified in Sri Lanka, focus must be given to several steps that should be taken in this regard.
He claimed at a time PCR tests are not conducted upon arrival of passengers; the infected individual was identified through a random PCR test.
Ravi Kumudesh added thereafter, the relevant laboratory directed the sample for genome sequencing voluntarily.
He stressed therefore the identification of the relevant individual was part of a random process.
Kumudesh noted the infected individual was reportedly not directed to quarantine procedure, adding if an infected individual is identified at the airport, the action to be taken is unclear, due to the lack of clear guidelines.
Kumudesh said 99% of persons who may be infected with the Omicron variant are not subject to such a process, and may not be detected, adding if so, the country may have to face an Omicron wave.
