PCR tests are being increased across the country

Nova May 29, 2025

The Secretary to the Ministry of Health and Mass Media, Dr. Anil Jasinghe, stated that steps will be taken to increase PCR tests across the country to determine whether the new Covid variant is spreading rapidly.

At a press conference held yesterday (28), he said that while the public should not be afraid of the new Covid variant at this time, it cannot be said that there is no risk of it entering the country.

Commenting further on this, Dr. Anil Jasinghe said,

"We have again gathered the teams including the Epidemiology Division and held the main discussion yesterday. We have to say that there is no reason for the public to be afraid at this time. But that does not mean that it will not come to Sri Lanka. There is an increase in Covid in Asia. We have increased PCR testing mainly in Kandy, Galle, the two National Hospitals and in hospitals that have PCR. In any case, there is a fever surveillance system. One for outpatients, the other for inpatients. They do both. Through that, we identify whether we have Covid. If you have a fever or a cold, use a mask, it is good for others."

There has been a slight increase in the number of global Covid infections in the recent past.

According to the World Health Organization, a common spread of Covid is reported in Mediterranean countries, Southeast Asian countries and Western Pacific countries.

Accordingly, Covid subtypes such as JN 1, LF 7 and NB 1.8.1 have now been reported from many countries.

India is among the countries where such infections are reported most frequently.

LF 7 and NB 1.8.1 Covid subtypes are considered to be subtypes under the supervision of the World Health Organization.

In this context, the Ministry of Health of this country has already drawn attention to the new Covid variant that is spreading in Asian countries.

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