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HEALTH OFFICIALS ARE today considering how they will broaden the case definition for Covid-19 to begin testing more widely in the community again.
Chief Medical Officer Dr Tony Holohan said the National Public Health Emergency Team (NPHET) will be discussing this issue at its meeting today.
“Among the things we will be looking at is the question around the case definition and whether we think tomorrow is the right time and what the nature of that change in case definition might be, as we move towards a plan to increase our capacity to detect cases more readily in a circumstance where we have driven down the rates of community transmission,” he said yesterday evening.
“In other words, to make the case definition more sensitive, more likely to pick up a case, were a case to occur.”
At the start of the epidemic, only those who showed symptoms and had a history of travel to China or certain parts of Italy could be tested. It was later expanded to include anyone who had symptoms, leading to a surge in demand and ultimately a significant backlog of samples that the laboratories in Ireland could not cope with.
Dr Tony Holohan said there were high levels of worry among the population at that time and that generated a large increase in the number of people seeking a test.
“We know that most of those people didn’t have Covid-19 because I think at that time the positivity rates were down to 1, 2, 3%.”
In recent weeks, only those in priority groups, such as healthcare workers or those with underlying conditions who were showing symptoms could be tested. At the weekend, the health service began testing en masse across residential facilities, with a big focus on nursing home staff and residents.
Paul Reid / TwitterAt the end of today, & since last Saturday, 18,000 residents & staff in Long Term Residential Care locations will have been tested for #Covid19. Thanks to our National Ambulance crews with support from our Community Teams & Defence Forces. @HSELive @defenceforces @AmbulanceNAS pic.twitter.com/Vi3FpSHPe9
— Paul Reid (@paulreiddublin) April 23, 2020
Ruairi Brugha, professor of epidemiology and public health medicine at the Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland (RCSI), said the country can only move to the next stage if people take responsibility for how they behave around distancing measures.
It comes as new evidence indicated people are starting to increase movement and disregard social distancing rules.
Data presented at yesterday’s Department of Health Briefing indicated a surge in the movement of people in the last week.
The CMO said modelling data shows it will “take very little” for us to lose the good work we have done.
“There’s no sense in which we have achieved something there that couldn’t all be undone very quickly,” he said. He also said people should not take it as a certainty that restrictions will be relaxed on 5 May.
Professor Brugha warned easing restrictions is “quite complex” and said a lot of steps need to be put in place.
He told RTE’s Morning Ireland: “Once we reach the point of relaxation, it’s going to determine whether we are going to maintain control of this epidemic or risk a second wave epidemic down the road.
“We can’t keep things as they are and we need to recognise that as we relax certain measures, carefully in a staged way with good monitoring systems in place, we have to double-down on what we need to do around distancing and hygiene.
“The responsibility will be more now on the public than it was previously.
“During what people call the lockdown, which really wasn’t a lockdown, it was actually simpler, it was tough on people, but it was simpler in that people were staying at home and we could distance with our families, the weekly shop to the supermarket, we knew what to do then.
“We can only move into this next stage if people take responsibility for how they engage in more relaxed behaviour, whether it’s going back to work or children going back to school and it isn’t enough to have four-fifths of us actually taking this seriously.
“It only takes a small number of people to behave in a celebratory way. We know that we Irish when we get the opportunity want to be convivial and we want to do it around alcohol and we’ve seen the big increase in alcohol sales.”
He said it only take around 2-3% of the population to behave in an irresponsible way to risk the spread of the virus.
- With reporting from Press Association.
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Sooner the better. I know more people who have had all of the symptoms of COVID-19 who couldn’t get tested, than those who could. We’ll never get a proper handle on infection rates without properly widened criteria.
@The Risen: A test center opened in Carlow about 4 weeks ago. I have never seen it open. Army tent in place but never anyone there and the gates always closed.
@The Risen: I would like to see all healthcare workers tested.
@The Risen: I have your number. You got 560 likes for the posting on garda /debenhams and for 591 for FF identity one yesterday. Not as if you are insightful.
Nobody but nobody gets that level of likes all the time and is consistently out of the box first
This is organised and sinister manipulation. All pro SF or attacking FF or FG.
The richest party is paying for this .You take turns with Larkin chappie. He’ll be up too.
This posting, the usual few liner is an example
@Logan Shepherd: What a coincidence. You and Corrigan up second and third.
Organised media manipulation.
@Logan Shepherd: couldnt agree more, they should of been prioritised from get go.
@David Glynn: Ah David get over yourself. Do you disagree with my comment? I made it due to the fact that there are healthcare workers who have regular contact with covid positive patients. They have also had contact with covid positive collegues. I think they should be tested. Do you?
@David Glynn: Now what?
@David Glynn: Whether the Risen or any other contributor has a political alliance is their own business, why does this cause you anxiety? It is the nature of a comment whether people can identify with the content that makes for approval or otherwise. Perhaps you should focus on relating your comments to the articles in question and less focus on personal analysis and you too may see more relatable interaction, just a suggestion.
@Logan Shepherd: Yes of course. Missing my point. Latest in organised and consistent anti government main parties posting.
It sucks in people.
@The Risen: think Simon Harris needs time out looked. Very tired on prime time last nite
@David Glynn: Yet you were the one that mentioned the government. The rest of us were discussing testing. You know, cause that is what the article is about. Funny how that works isn’t it.
@David Glynn: what is his Rzero rate on the Journal? Must be north of 50%
@The Risen: amazing, I know no one.
@Honeybee: You don’t get 500 to 600 likes for pithy 3 liners.Same with larkin fellow Shinbot.
Only ever posts on SF, government formation and anything that crops up that can be twisted into a direct or indirect attack on FFand or FG.
I dont care what your alliance is. But I am against organised posting responses. Go back over the last few days postings by the Risen team and Larkin
This is sinister. From the country’s richest party
And it doesnt cause me anxiety as you would wish.
This is not Russia.
@Logan Shepherd: Testing my foot. Would you think that people would would say what a great job the government is doing afetr reading the orchestrated commentary.
Dont respond.
@David Glynn: I don’t think the government are doing a great job though. Some good things have been done and I’ve always given credit for that.
Paying heavily now for the massive years of neglect, underinvestment and privatisation plans by FFG now.
We need massive leaps in testing numbers to get a grip on this virus…
@David Glynn: Jesus David, take a break.
@David Glynn: You really need help with this affliction of Bots…
@Gary O CONNOR: You are one of the three. Evidence is there .
@Cormac Laffan: youll never get 600 likes. Have to get army council nod.
Taiwan, s Korea and Vietnam all have very low rates of infected and deaths because they tested everyone and isolated anyone with it , it really is that simple, just need to test test test
There’s thousands more cases in Ireland, there was never enough tests to meet demand
The virus is burning itself out and across the world the number of fatalities are lessening.
Look at China. They didn’t develop a vaccine and yet it’s virtually and completely gone.
By all means develop a vaccine but don’t keep us all locked up until then
@Paul: Sorry but you can’t seriously take China’s figures as being truthful
@Paul: Explain to us how a virus burns itself out ?
@paddy: if you disbelieve China then you really have to consider the truthfulness of all the other countries figures.
The reports are that global figures for infection and fatality are down or they’re not.
@Mock the week: burns itself out, runs its course. Please look up the word virus and it will explain everything
@Paul: Is that right ? Cold, flu, hiv, all ran their course ? Jaysus they kept that quiet…
@Paul: the rate of infection might be down but that’s like saying ‘this parachute has slowed me down that, I’ll now take it off’
@Mock the week:
From what I’ve researched it appears that this virus is a strain of the flu though some say it has similarities with SARS. There is no known cure or vaccine for SARS.
Annually a flu will depopulate the world by some 150k+.
Some will have been vaccinated and some will be healthy enough for their bodies immune system to fight it whilst some are less fortunate i.e. the elderly, those with underlying medical problems, etc.
As a matter of interest. My elderly uncle (mid 80’s) gets his regular flu vac and is up to date with it. He’s perfectly well and is annoyed he can’t go out
Work in nursing home. Got a call today to say tests of staff and residents have been cancelled. You couldn’t make it up………..
See my response to the Risen SF media manipulation team.
@David Glynn: Only you know what you mean I think David. Only you.
@David Corrigan: What sort of crap is that.
@David Glynn: You tell me as I have absolutely no idea what you are talking about in your latest comments.
@David Corrigan: That “only you” comment was threatening. Haven’t a clue doesnt wash. You are the avuncular soft purveyor i all my comments its about media manipulation..
The built all centres and then couldn’t get the products needed, hoping that money spent goes to good use.
Rapid testing and results is said to be key, but we’ll know by then as Germany will be nearly 2 weeks into.Or we can all get UV light seemingly .
Dont sell booze if that’s a concern, but we need to return to work. We are not all state workers
have your say