Mairead Farrell (Galway West, Sinn Fein)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

318. To ask the Minister for Health his plans in moving forward with regard to Covid-19 testing sites as testing and tracing efforts remain a key part of a response to the pandemic; if there are plans to expand testing in any capacity to rural areas; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45769/21]

Stephen Donnelly (Wicklow, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

Testing and contact tracing has been a key component of our response to the pandemic and has been fundamental to identifying the source, and containing the spread of the virus.

The Government is acutely aware of the importance of testing and contact tracing, and how the system has responded to periods of increased demand, including the high demand currently being experienced. The availability of an accessible testing service remains an essential tool in the immediate fight against Covid-19.

Current standing capacity is 175,000 tests per week. 140,000 in Community and Serial Testing, and 35,000 in Acute hospitals. Serial Testing Programmes are ongoing in Nursing Homes, Mental Health Facilities, Food Production Facilities and in Mandatory Quarantine Sites.

The success of our vaccination programme provides an opportunity to consider the national approach to testing and tracing and how it might change in the evolving public health response to the virus. A key priority in planning the future of our testing and tracing model is ensuring that the service is appropriate to the needs of our ongoing response, and we will continue to monitor and amend the testing strategy in line with the epidemiological profile of the disease, its impact on healthcare utilisation and outcomes, and the vaccination status of the population.

The National Public Health Emergency Team (NPHET) has made a number of recommendations for the testing and tracing programme for the coming period, subject to an assessment of the impact of the return to education on the epidemiological profile of the disease.

I have approved a recommendation, for implementation in the coming days, focusing on children in early years and primary education settings to ensure that the education of the children of this country can continue uninterrupted to the greatest extent possible. NPHET has advised that any further potential changes will be subject to ongoing assessment of the prevailing epidemiological conditions, and I will give them consideration at the appropriate time.

It is important to state that people with COVID-19 symptoms, including children in school and childcare settings, should continue to rapidly self-isolate and not attend school/college/workplaces or to socialise until 48 hours after resolution of symptoms.