Oireachtas Joint and Select Committees

Wednesday, 16 September 2020

Special Committee on Covid-19 Response

Covid-19: Final Report of Nursing Homes Expert Panel (Resumed)

Photo of Louise O'ReillyLouise O'Reilly (Dublin Fingal, Sinn Fein)
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The decisions were made at local level but the guidance and case definition that applied at the time would obviously have excluded any person who was asymptomatic. I am referring, however, to the guidance that stated there should be two tests indicating "not detected" before a person is transferred out. Were the tests going to be carried out only on those who fitted the criteria at the time? I understand the knowledge is evolving but it was not a matter of routine in March to test twice; it was actually a matter of testing twice in line with the case criteria.

Is it correct that this would not have applied to anyone at that stage who was asymptomatic?