Oireachtas Joint and Select Committees

Wednesday, 12 May 2021

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport

Covid-19 Testing and Air Travel: Nuevo Ireland

Dr. Damien Kenny:

I agree completely. On the catch and contain point, the system was originally developed in 2013 to look at Ebola breakouts in west Africa because a lab-based system is not available in western Africa. It is a highly contagious pathogen with significant implications for those who catch it. We are looking at a similar scenario here, involving screening a large number of people to pick up a small number who may have something that has a huge implication for all of us. On the validation testing, I do not disagree with what the Deputy has said.