Community-related disease like Coronavirus can never be eradicated by isolating the community, the Government Medical Officers’ Association (GMOA) said.   

Addressing the media, GMOA spokesman Dr. Samantha Ananda said the novel coronavirus is a disease which is spreading in the community and help should come from the community to defeat it. 

He said the coronavirus spread is an issue relating to Community Health.   

Therefore, a wide comprehensive and very sensitive programme should be implemented to locate COVID-19 positive patients, to examine them and their close associates with immediate effect, Dr Ananda said.   

“The programme should target the public to get their help. Without getting their help, this pandemic situation cannot be eradicated from the community,” he said.   

“As this coronavirus is in the community, it could convert to a community problem. After that, we can ask them for help to eradicate it,” Dr. Ananda added. (Chaturanga Samarawickrama) 

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved emergency use for the first Covid-19 test that can be conducted entirely at home.

The agency cleared the single-use test, which provides results within 30 minutes, for use by anyone aged 14 and over if their health-care provider suspects they may have Covid-19.

Produced by a privately held, California-based biotech company, Lucira Health, the kit is also eligible for use in hospitals, though patients under 14 must have their sample collected by a health-care provider.

The FDA did not reveal the price of the test. The company’s website says the test is “intended to cost less than $50.”

“While Covid-19 diagnostic tests have been authorized for at-home collection, this is the first that can be fully self-administered and provide results at home,” FDA Commissioner Stephen Hahn said in a press release.

“This new testing option is an important diagnostic advancement to address the pandemic and reduce the public burden of disease transmission,” he added.

The nasal swab test involves swirling a patient’s self-collected sample swab in a vial, which is then placed in a test unit. Results are then made visible on the test’s light-up display within 30 minutes.

The FDA noted that individuals who test positive should self-isolate and seek additional care from their health-care provider. Those who test negative and experience Covid-like symptoms should also follow up with their health-care provider, it added.