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PEOPLE WITH SYMPTOMS of Covid-19 should self-isolate until 48 hours after their symptoms are gone – but most don’t need to get a coronavirus test to confirm infection.
Interim Chief Medical Officer Professor Breda Smyth outlined the current guidelines at a press conference today, explaining that they are based on the virus being widespread in the community.
This has been the advice in recent months and was reiterated today by Prof Smyth.
Guidelines currently state that those who test positive for Covid-19 should isolate for seven days. However, the interim CMO reminded people that testing isn’t always necessary.
Instead people with Covid symptoms should stay at home until approximately 48-hours after their symptoms have cleared.
Smyth, who officially took up the interim CMO position yesterday, said that isolation is more important than testing for slowing the spread of the illness.
HSE Covid tests are targeted at people with underlying health conditions and those aged over-55 who are not fully vaccinated.
Symth outlined that the changed approach in the past few months is because Ireland is in a mitigation phase in its efforts to stem the spread of the virus, which is now endemic. With the virus widespread, it’s no longer necessary to try and identify every single case.
“We are in a situation of mitigation. And I think it’s really important that the public also understands this: We’re no longer in the state of containment,” she said.
“We’re in a situation of mitigation, where the population has very high protection through the vaccination programme. Because of that, it’s really the more vulnerable that we want to protect now in our population.
“That’s why we are in the stage which is called endemic, we’re in a state of endemicity in the population, where the virus is widespread. That’s why it’s not important to identify every single case, it may be for our own personal knowledge, but it’s not essential from a control and management perspective to identify every single case.
That’s why it’s not necessary for everybody to take an antigen test. But I understand if people like to do so, that’s personal choice, and they’re available freely for people to do so.
Antigen testing
Professor Smyth said that a person with no symptoms who tests positive on an antigen test is still being told to self-isolate for seven days but someone who has no symptoms and doesn’t take a test would not have to isolate.
“If you have a positive Covid test, you have to follow the guidelines with regards to a positive Covid test. If you don’t have a positive Covid test then you can go about your business. They are the current recommendations,” Smyth said.
The public health professor explained that this is because symptomatic people transmit the virus significantly more rapidly than people who do not have symptoms.
“Asymptomatic people are a lot less infectious, but currently if you have a positive test – if you go ahead and take a test even though you’re not recommended to take a test – you have to follow the guidelines as a Covid positive person,” she said.
If I don’t test how do I know it’s covid ?
Everyone with hay fever will have to take the summer off !
Surely it’s common sense to do an antigen test ?
@Self Employed Anarchist: She clearly states that you can do one if you wish, you just don’t have to.
If you don’t want to do a test and you have symptoms, stay home until 48hrs after your symptoms have gone. If you don’t want to do this then take a test and if it’s negative, work away. If it turns out positive though then stick to your 10 days at home.
In reality, the majority of people are just going about their daily business regardless these days.
@Lee King Buckett: its 7 days at home now isn’t it?
@NotMyIreland: Could well be, I’ve no idea as I’m not paying any attention to it at this stage. I’ve had my vaccines and booster and never had any symptoms thankfully so I’m just going about my daily business and totally forgetting about covid.
If I develop symptoms, I’ll stay in, test myself and look up the guidelines then I guess.
@Lee King Buckett: That’s a pretty selfish approach. Clearly fully vaccinated people are catching this strain. Hopefully no one dies after catching it from you.
@lelookcoco: nice try
@lelookcoco: how is what he said a selfish approach? He’s going about his day normally and will take precautions where necessary. Did you read his comment or just go off on one?
@Lee King Buckett: that’s how I’m dealing with it. Other than wearing masks on public transport I’m just going about life normally
I’d imagine there are people who might have symptoms and still go to work.
@Dave Barrett: I’d imagine there’s as many with no symptoms who don’t go to work!
@Paddy Cullen AIWS: my symptoms appeared the morning after 7 pints.
@Paddy Cullen AIWS: True
I do not understand her reasoning, There is a nasty upper respiratory infection doing the rounds. I have had it, and tested negative for covid after daily tests. So did colleagues. The cough lasted for nearly 6 weeks. According to her logic I should not bother testing, just stay home for the whole of June. And ditto those with hay fever.
@lynda kennedy: That’s not what she said now is it? But sure have a moan anyway.
There are reports that BA4 and 5 attack the lungs more than previous variants of Omicron. Probably the reason for the higher levels of hospitalizations.
@Irish Opinion: The majority of positive cases in hospital are consequential. They are not in hospital because of covid.
@Thunder Snowman: Sorry, i mean coincidental.
@Thunder Snowman: Its half, not the majority…….”He said that there are currently 800 people in hospital with Covid-19, and while half of those were in hospital for other reasons, they still had to be treated as Covid patients, with implications for hospital services.”
@Irish Opinion: I don’t think that’s the common consensus. The increase in hospitalisations is probably due to the increased transmissibility of these sub variants compared to others, hence more infections, rather than due to the severity of the disease caused by them. Regarding the approx 50% of people in hospital being coincidental, that was the case with earlier Omicron lineages as well.
@Georg Ludwig Cantor: the earlier omicron was closer to 75% coincidental. Its just waning immunity in vaccinated but previously uninfected people that means they get sicker than in the last wave
@Georg Ludwig Cantor: I never said it was the common consensus. It is new reports.
@Thunder Snowman: I love the wat 61 liked your consequential comment. Maybe it says something about people not really reading the comments???
@Thunder Snowman: 50 /50 there saying so certainly not the majority
@Irish Opinion: Sure we wouldn’t know this if it weren’t for other larger countries, testing for different strains. Baffling how other health services can test more people and let them know which strain they have, plus how they most likely caught it, and here we’re not even aware of what we’ve got when we catch it.
Ah yeah sure none of us have jobs to go to or bills to pay…..it’s common sense to take a test if you’re in doubt.
@Davey Ohanlon: I think the rationale might that the HSE don’t want to go back to giving out free antigen tests…
Ridiculous. There will be no one left in the work place following that rule!! Between colds/hayfever….all the same symptoms
@Kay Murphy: Is it a rule? Maybe watch or read what she said
@Kay Murphy: where I work insists on being tested, otherwise, it will be considered a normal sick event, and all that entails (3 days unpaid etc) where as if we test positive for covid, we do not lose out on pay or leave. An incentive to do the right thing and stop it spreading within the company.
@Kay Murphy: You clearly have not yet had Covid. It’s nothing like hayfever
All joking and conspiracy theories aside, at what point do you think it is appropriate to ask how effective these vaccines really are? How many shots of it do they want us to take?
I am starting to think Geert Vanden Bossche and Luc Montagnier may be right after all
The next 2 weeks are critical.
@Joe Ivers: pandemic of the unvaccinated they said
Firstly we shouldn’t have an interim CMO we deserve a full CMO. Secondly the ICMO saying we are in an endemic mitigation phase is code for abandoning mitigation measures eg mask wearing , social distancing, wfh, and supports. I would be far more interested in hearing her apology for how our hospitals and public health officials are being let down by public messaging and ignoring Co morbidities and long Covid. We are no longer all in it together and the vulnerable are isolated and abandoned. No wonder there are a flurry of resignations from the Top tables in public health.
@Fergal Canton: I agree with a lot if your sentiments but I wouldn’t knock the lady standing in as CMO while the other chickens have flown the roost
@Fergal Canton: we were never all in it together anyway. While the vast majority of the country got on with life working from home there was a small minority that were affected badly. The worst were anyone that lost someone during the height of restrictions and the rest were ones that either lost or almost lost their businesses or livelihoods while the rest of the country were unaffected financially. From what I can see, we as a country have learned very little from all this.
Am I reading this incorrectly?…If I have symptoms I can either choose to not test and stay in for period of symptoms +48hrs or choose to do a test and stay in for 7 days if positive…many will choose not to test now so how on earth does this protect the most vulnerable?
Surely it would be better to ask people to keep testing and, if positive, only need to stay in for period of symptoms +48hrs but know to wear mask etc when out for up to 10says to help protect the vulnerable. Has to be better than a choose to ignore it if you want and go about your business approach – ‘what you don’t know won’t hurt you’ v ‘won’t you don’t know may hurt others’
At this stage of it, if they expect people to self isolate without a test to even prove they have covid the state should be willing to pay the equivalent of loss of earnings. From what I see if you want to apply for the pup illness benefit you need medical certification from your doctor so you can deduct the €50 from the payment right away for that anyway and then they more than likely won’t give certification without pcr test which seems to be done away with.
@Edward Reid: The doctor will issue a cert (no PCR needed) and they don’t charge for this either. You then upload it to the HSE, or you can ask your GP to do it for you, and you will get payment then.
What would we do without the superior experts on here.
Why does everyone in Ireland need to be told how to behave and act?do what suits you,take a test if neg great,if positive isolate for few days if you can,it’s not that hard. Government changes rules to suit business,travel etc so just look after yourself.
Am I reading this incorrectly?…If I have symptoms I can either choose to not test and stay in for period of symptoms +48hrs or choose to do a test and stay in for 7 days if positive…many will choose not to test now so how on earth does this protect the most vulnerable?
Surely it would be better to ask people to keep testing and, if positive, only need to stay in for period of symptoms +48hrs but know to wear mask etc when out for up to 10says to help protect the vulnerable. Has to be better than a choose to ignore it if you want and go about your business approach – ‘what you don’t know won’t hurt you’ v ‘won’t you don’t know may hurt others’
Am I reading this incorrectly?…If I have symptoms I can either choose to not test and stay in for period of symptoms +48hrs or choose to do a test and stay in for 7 days if positive…many will choose not to test now so how on earth does this protect the most vulnerable?
Surely it would be better to ask people to keep testing and, if positive, only need to stay in for period of symptoms +48hrs but know to wear mask etc when out for up to 10says to help protect the vulnerable. Has to be better than a choose to ignore it if you want and go about your business approach – ‘what you don’t know won’t hurt you’ v ‘won’t you don’t know may hurt others’
Am I reading this incorrectly?…if I have symptoms I can either choose to not test and stay in for period of symptoms +48hrs or choose to do a test and stay in for 7 days if positive…why would anyone test then and how on earth does this protect the most vulnerable?
Surely they’d be better off asking people to keep testing and, if positive, only need to stay in for period of symptoms +48hrs but know to wear mask etc when out to help protect the vulnerable. Has to be better than ‘choose to ignore it if you want and go about your business – ‘what you don’t know won’t hurt you’ v ‘won’t you don’t know may hurt others’
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