Post-Christmas demand for Covid-19 tests ‘extremely high’

Demand for Covid-19 PCR tests is “extremely high” after Christmas with only very limited availability of appointments through the HSE’s booking portal during St Stephen’s Day.

The Department of Health last night urged people with any symptoms to self-isolate and to book a PCR test when they become available. It reminded people of the importance of cancelling test appointments in advance where an individual is unable to attend so the slot can be freed up for others.

Covid-19 vaccination centres resume services across the State on Monday having been closed for Christmas Day and St Stephen’s Day. From Wednesday, anyone over the age of 30 can book a booster appointment.

A further 10,404 new cases of Covid-19 were reported on St Stephen’s Day amid reduced testing capacity over Christmas. All 41 HSE testing centre will be operating today, up from 36 yesterday.

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On Christmas Day, 13,765 cases were recorded, the highest single-day figure for infections since the pandemic began. There were 426 people with Covid-19 in hospital yesterday, 48 more than a day earlier.

No appointments were available at any Covid-19 testing centres at various points yesterday afternoon, though a small number did occasionally become available briefly.

Community testing was originally established at 15,000 tests a day but demand during the fast-spreading Omicron wave has pushed capacity to 35,000 a day with plans by the HSE to increase this further.

Antigen tests

“We continually monitor the availability of testing appointments across each of our centres and appointments often do become available later in the day,” said the Department of Health, adding that antigen tests will continue to be issued to people identified as close contacts.

Dr Catherine Motherway, head of University Hospital Limerick's intensive-care unit, expressed concerns about the potential impact on the health service from increasing numbers of staff being forced out on sick leave. "We don't yet know whether we can continue to provide elective scheduled services," she said, adding that it was also unknown what effect the Omicron wave would have on vulnerable people and on the unvaccinated and whether this would put added pressure on hospitals.

At the weekend, chief medical officer Dr Tony Holohan urged anyone with Covid-19 symptoms to self-isolate and arrange a PCR test.

He also urged people to reduce their contacts, not to socialise or meet indoors with people from other households, and to avoid crowded places, including retail environments as the post-Christmas sales got under way.

Meanwhile, senior civil servants will decide if key workers who are symptom-free should be exempt from Covid-19 isolation requirements under contingency plans to ensure public services remain in operation amid high levels of infection.

Exemptions

There are already derogations in place within the health service for key staff who are close contacts of people with Covid-19. The possibility of exemptions for other key workers such as gardaí, fire crews, prison officers and those involved in infrastructure and public utilities, such as water services and power supply, is also under consideration.

A Government statement said departments are “working to ensure the full implementation of existing sectoral guidance, as well as putting in place contingency plans to ensure the continued operation of critical infrastructure and essential services”.

In Northern Ireland, new restrictions aimed at reducing the spread of Omicron came into effect yesterday. Nightclubs have closed and all large indoor standing events are banned.

From today , pubs, cafes and restaurants can remain open but can only operate a table service. Up to six people will be allowed to sit together at a table.

Up to a maximum of 10 people can sit together if they all belong to a single household.