# Testing

Last year

2022

# breda smyth

People with Covid symptoms must self-isolate but most don’t need a test, interim CMO explains

Testing is now being targeted at medically vulnerable people.

46.0k

Jul 5th 2022, 5:06 PM

# Shanghai

Shanghai to start easing lockdown after mass Covid testing

Large swathes of the city, with a population of 26 million, have been under lockdown since March 28.

8.9k

Apr 9th 2022, 12:33 PM

All time

# Explainer

New Covid testing and isolation guidelines: Here's everything you need to know

The changes are aimed at freeing up Covid-19 testing capacity and easing disruption to businesses.

90.7k

Dec 31st 2021, 12:03 PM

# vaccine programme

First vaccination clinics for vulnerable children held as hospitals face pressure due to Covid

The number of people in hospital with Covid jumped by 75 overnight.

There were 16,959 positive swabs reported today by the Department of Health

The booster programme hit the milestone of 2,000,000 doses administered.

91.1k

104

Updated

Dec 29th 2021, 4:45 PM

# Coronavirus

Demand for Covid tests 'extremely high' as system ramps up again post Christmas

There were no appointments available in Dublin, Cork, Limerick, Galway and Waterford at the time of writing.

61.8k

Dec 27th 2021, 12:18 PM

# Testing

Biden pledges 500 million free rapid Covid tests to counter Omicron

People will use a new website to order their tests, which will then be sent by US mail at no charge, the White House said.

12.7k

Dec 21st 2021, 10:00 PM

Third additional Covid test centre this week to open in Swords tomorrow

The HSE confirmed that it expects the three new centres will continue to operate beyond this week.

19.6k

Nov 30th 2021, 6:06 PM

# restrictions

'No plans' to close hospitality or retail over the Christmas period, says Varadkar

The HSE’s Paul Reid has urged people waiting on a test to continue to isolate for at least 48 hours after symptoms end.

26.7k

Updated

Nov 26th 2021, 2:00 PM

# Covid-19

Plan to subsidise antigen tests to be signed off on later this week or next Tuesday, says Tánaiste

Subsidised antigen tests are expected to be made available at pharmacies for €2 to €3.

23.1k

Updated

Nov 23rd 2021, 9:00 PM

# Testing

Antigen tests are being used 'widely but not properly', says chief medical officer

Dr Tony Holohan cautioned that people with Covid-19 symptoms should receive a PCR test instead of relying on antigen testing.

31.3k

Nov 22nd 2021, 9:28 AM

# close contacts

HSE says 'disappearing' list on online portal is intentional for close contacts in schools

It was highlighted that a positive case’s close contacts disappeared when the ‘school setting’ option was selected.

46.6k

Nov 14th 2021, 11:00 AM

# Results

Ireland given the all-clear for All Blacks clash after Covid scare in camp

Andy Farrell’s matchday 23 will line out as named yesterday.

11.4k

Nov 12th 2021, 8:57 PM

# covid pass

New testing regime on the cards for people who can't get the vaccine on medical grounds

People who have not got their second dose cannot use the Covid Pass to access a number of services.

18.2k

Oct 27th 2021, 4:35 PM

# rapid testing

State could buy 500,000 antigen tests per week as Govt told rapid testing may play 'important role'

Ireland is understood to have two million rapid tests in stock.

12.5k

Oct 21st 2021, 2:28 PM

Additional supports for Covid testing in some counties as positivity rises in community

Yesterday around 17,000 tests were done in the community.

15.9k

Oct 12th 2021, 6:23 PM

THE MORNING LEAD

Over €480 million spent on Covid-19 tests provided free of charge since start of pandemic

A report by

Lauren Boland

The HSE has purchased two million “I got my Covid-19 vaccine” badges at a cost of €320,000.

€217 million has been spent on providing free PCR tests this year up to August, Lauren Boland reports.

The HSE has purchased two million “I got my Covid-19 vaccine” badges and spent €8,800 on photo backdrops.

It is "very pleased" with the number of people sharing photos online after they receive a vaccine.

14.6k

Sep 17th 2021, 12:05 AM

# Testing

Number of children aged five to 12 tested for Covid quadruples

A further 1,413 cases of Covid-19 were notified on today.

22.3k

Sep 16th 2021, 7:29 PM

# Testing

No plans to change current testing regime, but contact screening to be reduced in longer-term

A paper drawn up for NPHET suggested children under 13 with mild symptoms should no longer be tested.

The HSE says there are no current plans to change the existing testing regime.

However, an internal discussion paper suggested those with mild symptoms may be able to forego a test.

Close contact testing will likely be scaled back in the future if the pandemic recedes to an epidemic.

23.9k

Updated

Sep 13th 2021, 1:58 PM

# Coronavirus

Health service expects ‘busy’ September for Covid-19 testing in schools

The HSE national lead said the executive was already tracking and carrying out testing in several hundred schools since they re-opened.

16.2k

Sep 5th 2021, 5:13 PM

# covid test

Online booking system for Covid-19 tests set up for all counties

People can still show up to these test centres without booking an appointment.

19.5k

Jun 22nd 2021, 1:44 PM

# Testing

Dáil committee calls on Holohan to explain opposition to antigen tests

NPHET has objected to the use of the rapid tests among the general public.

22.3k

Jun 9th 2021, 6:00 PM

# covid19

High volumes at Covid testings centres amid ransomware disruption

People who are symptomatic are being advised to go to any community testing centre.

14.3k

May 18th 2021, 1:21 PM

# Testing

'A false reassurance': Health officials caution against widespread use of rapid antigen tests

Supermarket chain LIDL made headlines on Thursday when it announced it will stock rapid antigen testing kits in its stores.

18.8k

May 11th 2021, 6:00 AM

# Testing

Eight more temporary walk-in test centres, including two in Donegal, to open

Donegal has experienced a rise in cases in recent weeks.

20.7k

May 7th 2021, 4:17 PM

# tried and tested

HSE to temporarily open walk-in Covid-19 test centres in seven more towns

More than 50,000 people have been tested in the existing walk-in centres.

50.7k

Apr 30th 2021, 8:04 PM

# Coronavirus

Four new walk-in Covid-19 test centres will open this week

Three of the centres will be located in Dublin and the fourth one will be located in Cahir, Co Tipperary.

33.4k

Apr 15th 2021, 7:43 PM

# Coronavirus

Four new walk-in Covid test centres open as 255 patients in hospital with Covid-19

The number of hospitalisations is at its lowest point since Christmas Day.

As of 6.30pm last night, there were 61 people with Covid-19 in intensive care units.

The HSE is opening the walk-in centres in areas where the number of positive cases are particularly high.

35.4k

Apr 2nd 2021, 7:47 AM

# community testing

Positivity rate running at 3% as 7,500 people attend walk-in Covid-19 test centres

Four of the walk-in centres are in different parts of Dublin and one is in Tullamore.

39.5k

Mar 29th 2021, 9:48 AM

# Your Say

Poll: Would you take a free, walk-in Covid-19 test for people without symptoms?

Five test centres opened this week across the country.

48.6k

Mar 27th 2021, 11:00 AM

# Test centres

1,400 people attend new 'walk-in, no appointment needed' Covid-19 test centres today

The temporary testing centres will allow people who don’t have symptoms of Covid-19 to get a free test.

55.7k

Updated

Mar 25th 2021, 5:53 PM

# covid19

HSE to roll-out widescale retrospective contact tracing from 31 March

Around 20% of cases are currently identified as community transmission.

28.8k

Mar 25th 2021, 5:47 PM

# Les Bleus

Scrum coach Servat tests positive as France confirm third Covid-19 case

However, all the French players have tested negative for the second time this week.

5.2k

Feb 17th 2021, 10:09 AM

# Testing

UL to set up test centre after rise in Covid-19 cases among students living near campus

The cases are “largely based around simple household visits”.

27.3k

Feb 9th 2021, 8:01 PM

# Coronavirus

Door-to-door testing blitz in England to find ‘every single’ South African strain case

Mobile testing units and home testing kits will be deployed across eight communities in England.

24.7k

Feb 2nd 2021, 8:00 AM

# Coronavirus

HSE says cases need to drop at a 'consistent level' before it can resume testing close contacts

Covid-19 testing criteria for close contacts changed last month.

19.1k

Jan 27th 2021, 5:55 PM

# prioritisation

Standby list of frontline healthcare workers should be in place for any leftover vaccines, HSE says

A HSE document says “every effort should be made” to ensure vaccines are given to frontline healthcare workers.

15.1k

Jan 18th 2021, 3:46 PM

# season high

Premier League records 40 Covid-19 cases in latest week of testing

The figure is more than double that of the previous week, which was the highest since the beginning of Project Restart.

3.3k

Jan 5th 2021, 4:16 PM

# Coronavirus

Covid-19 close contacts no longer advised to get tested but still told to restrict movements

It is still “imperative” for close contacts to restrict movements and contact a GP if symptoms develop.

87.0k

130

Dec 31st 2020, 5:11 PM

# Channel Crossing

Thousands of lorry drivers could spend Christmas in Kent traffic backlog

Drivers coming from the UK need to be tested to be allowed into France – causing huge delays despite the borders being opened.

25.5k

Dec 24th 2020, 12:01 PM

# HSE

Full Covid-19 testing and tracing will be provided during the Christmas period

The Covid facilities will have to be fully resourced over the holidays, says the HSE.

10.8k

Dec 3rd 2020, 3:59 PM