AMS voices concern over reliance on vaccine card and foreign PCR report

Revisit the decision enabling tourists to leave the Bandaranaike International Airport (BIA) without the on-arrival RT-PCR test, stressed the Association of Medical Specialists (AMS) on Friday, warning that the reliance on the ‘vaccine card for two-dose vaccination and PCR report obtained within 72 hours prior to arrival’ could lead to the spread of dangerous variants.

It goes on to point out that recently the government established a rapid PCR laboratory at the BIA to attract more tourists. The idea of spending so much money for this facility was to encourage tourist arrivals with the least hassle, while keeping the country free of possible new deadly variants.

“To everyone's surprise and for ‘reasons best known to the originator of the new decision’, the government has now issued new guidelines. This is a dangerous decision, as there is no foolproof method of ascertaining the reliability and authenticity of PCR reports done outside Sri Lanka,” states the AMS, adding that there are many reports of fake vaccination certificates and false PCR reports not only in Sri Lanka but also in developed countries.

HOSPINORM given a week to get its act right

Meanwhile, when contacted, Airport and Aviation Services Limited (AASL) Chairman, Major General (Retd.) G.A. Chandrasiri said that he does not think that stopping PCR tests for fully vaccinated passengers would make a difference.

Citing the example of 2,300 tests being done on one day, he said that none of the passengers tested positive. Any passenger who wants to go home from the airport directly,should have a negative test result upon embarkation.

With the HOSPINORM laboratory being criticized by many for not being able to cope with the arrivals, Mr. Chandrasiri said that before September 28, there were three systems.

The earlier systems:

Arrivals (foreigners or Sri Lankans) through the Tourist Board, paid US$ 40, were taken to their respective ‘class’ hotels, underwent the PCR test there, got their results within 24 hours and, if negative, joined the tourist bubble.

Arrivals who were fully vaccinated were taken either to a paid or state quarantine centre where PCR testing was arranged by the army. If negative, they went to their homes or destinations. Unvaccinated arrivals were taken to quarantine centres where an on-arrival PCR and a Day 14 PCR were done. If negative, they went home.

He said that as there were many categories of arrivals and airline staff, etc., there was a requirement for a second laboratory. In April, a domestic terminal had been converted into a laboratory and was functioning under the Health Ministry, performing around 2,000 tests per day.

The AASL Board of Management was in agreement that there was a need for a second laboratory. Then the proposal to set up HOSPINORM(which has collaborations with Germany and West Asian countries) came through the Tourism Ministry. They sought to establish a laboratory at no cost and requested a block of land. This lab,which promised test results in 2-3 hours,was completed a week ago and began operations on September 25, said Mr. Chandrasiri.

He said that there were a lot of arrivals that day. Some issues cropped up from the staff side. This was a 24-hour job and it was too strenuous for them. There were delays in taking samples and people were not happy. Even though they sent additional staff, they could not cope.

The Health Ministry run lab then stepped in, it is understood, with 2,300 tests being done without an issue.

“We have given HOSPINORM seven more days to go through the process, and do trial runs. Until then this lab is not allowed to operate,” added Mr. Chandrasiri.