Dr. Tony Holohan:

That is a very fair question about antigen tests. Dr. Glynn might reflect on the masks when he responds to the question about long Covid. Regarding antigen tests, we have to continue to do what we can to try to raise public awareness and understanding of the way in which they are used. A lot of the discourse, I know, has been about whether NPHET is in favour or not in favour of antigen tests. We are in favour of them being used in the right circumstances and used properly. We know that there is room for improvement in public understanding of that. To the extent that any of us can influence that, we all have a role to play. The other thing I will say about this is that, as I think the Chairman said earlier, antigen tests are not a silver bullet. There is no one single measure that is a solution to this disease. That is true of antigen tests as well as everything else. We need to try as much as we can over the course of the weeks and months, as we begin to transition in our response, to shift the emphasis away from the test that people get to what people do as the correct measure when they have symptoms. If an individual has symptoms and responds appropriately and self-isolates, that will have a benefit not just in respect of the transmission of Covid but also in respect of the transmission of many other respiratory viral infections and other viral infections. There has been too much emphasis on tests, as though the test itself is the thing that prevents you from getting Covid. The test is only a means of informing your behaviour. Your behaviour and the measures you take as an individual are what is important in protecting you. That will have to be the emphasis as we move on from the very significant volume of both PCR testing and antigen testing we currently have in place, not just in this country but across the world. Does Dr. Glynn wish to come in?