Dr. Ronan Glynn:

People are offered day 0 and day 7 tests if they are identified as close contacts of a confirmed case. I believe the information given this morning was that 80% of the people identified as close contacts come forward for the day 0 test, but just 50% come forward for the day 7 test. My message is that a negative test result does not mean a patient does not have the virus. It simply means the virus was not detected at the time the test was taken. The test is merely one additional tool in our armoury to control the spread. It does not change the clinical outcome or change what individuals need to do.