Oireachtas Joint and Select Committees

Wednesday, 15 September 2021

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health

Update on Covid-19: Discussion

Dr. Tony Holohan:

In a sense, it is the same answer. When we think the criteria are satisfied - as I said, we are not very far away from that point - we will not continue to emphasise the importance of all individuals with symptoms being tested. It will be more about individuals who, on clinical grounds, a doctor believes it is important to understand what the nature of their symptoms is caused by. We expect that to be a far smaller volume of testing for clinical purposes, with the test essentially being ordered by a doctor as opposed to an individual. We are not at the point yet where we think that change can be made, but we think we are close to it.