The Association of Health Professionals says one individual among the three who were confirmed to have contracted the Omicron variant of the coronavirus yesterday, was identified through a random genome test of a PCR test.
President of the Association Ravi Kumudesh questioned if the variant is already spreading in Sri Lanka, and the testing procedure.
Kumudesh said one individual who tested positive for the new Omicron variant was selected at random from those observed under suspicion.
He stressed testing for the Omicron variant was conducted inefficiently, with one individual returning a positive test.
He added the probability of future cases of the Omicron variant was low due to inefficient testing.
Kumudesh added another Omicron case was detected in a foreigner who arrived in Sri Lanka, and returned a positive test when returning to his country of origin.
He said this was a result of health authorities discontinuing the on-arrival PCR testing process at the Bandaranaike International Airport.
Kumudesh predicted two possibilities of virus infection either from within Sri Lanka, or from the country of origin.
He expressed doubts over the impact such cases could have on the healthcare system and the public.
