Fergus O'Dowd (Louth, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I welcome the Minister and the members of NPHET. We listen to everything NPHET says. Its message is very important and is certainly getting through in County Louth. The 14-day incidence rates for the period from 15 to 28 September, which have just been published, show the incidence rate in Louth declined from 107 cases to 80.7 per cases per 100,000 people. That is a significant change but it is still not low enough. NPHET's message is getting through, people are listening and it is working. That is of great importance and shows NPHET's credibility and integrity. By coming here today, NPHET is showing where the truth lies. If members need NPHET to appear again, I have no doubt it will do so. The transparency of the truth in this case is welcome.

The positivity rate of tests stood at 2.9% yesterday and is 2.8% today. I read a report in The New York Times report, which indicated that if this rate goes above 3% in the State of New York, schools in the state will automatically close. The rate here is very close to 3%. Closing schools is a very serious decision to make. We have been using different metrics, including the R-rate and the number of cases per 100,000 population. Will the witnesses briefly address the positivity rate and how it might impact on policy?

My second question is for the Minister. I welcome his meetings with different groups and engagement with people. I am conscious of the Chairman’s instructions not to mention nursing homes but there is nonetheless a need for independent investigations of deaths in nursing homes in counties Louth and Meath. I ask the Minister to comment.