Results 3,521-3,540 of 6,944 for speaker:Michael McNamara

Special Committee on Covid-19 Response: Covid-19: Update on Testing and Tracing and Rising Incidence in the State (29 Sep 2020)

Michael McNamara: Okay. I am trying to be very brief. Obviously, a coroner's report takes a long time to make its way through the system.

Special Committee on Covid-19 Response: Covid-19: Update on Testing and Tracing and Rising Incidence in the State (29 Sep 2020)

Michael McNamara: For now, it is recorded as a Covid death, but it may be taken off the list at a later date. Is that what Dr. Cuddihy is saying?

Special Committee on Covid-19 Response: Covid-19: Update on Testing and Tracing and Rising Incidence in the State (29 Sep 2020)

Michael McNamara: I thank Dr. Cuddihy.

Special Committee on Covid-19 Response: Covid-19: Update on Testing and Tracing and Rising Incidence in the State (29 Sep 2020)

Michael McNamara: I will ask a brief follow-up question about testing. There has been a lot of discussion, particularly on social media, about PCR testing. Some international doctors are claiming that the number of cycles used in a PCR test means that a person can be shown to be positive if he or she had the virus some time ago but are no longer symptomatic. Equally, I have spoken to Irish doctors who have...

Special Committee on Covid-19 Response: Covid-19: Update on Testing and Tracing and Rising Incidence in the State (29 Sep 2020)

Michael McNamara: What number of cycles of testing are likely to show that people have had the virus a very long time ago, are not symptomatic and, maybe, not even be shedding anymore? There is also the issue of a margin of error that is part of all tests.

Special Committee on Covid-19 Response: Covid-19: Update on Testing and Tracing and Rising Incidence in the State (29 Sep 2020)

Michael McNamara: How many cycles are utilised in Irish testing?

Special Committee on Covid-19 Response: Covid-19: Update on Testing and Tracing and Rising Incidence in the State (29 Sep 2020)

Michael McNamara: Where are those investigations recorded? Where can we see those investigations?

Special Committee on Covid-19 Response: Covid-19: Update on Testing and Tracing and Rising Incidence in the State (29 Sep 2020)

Michael McNamara: Before that, Dr. Cuddihy said he was going to go back over historic cases for the previous 14 days. What questions will be asked? Will it be a neutral question such as, "Where have you been in the past 14 days?" or a loaded question such as, "Have you been in a bar in the past 14 days?"

Special Committee on Covid-19 Response: Covid-19: Update on Testing and Tracing and Rising Incidence in the State (29 Sep 2020)

Michael McNamara: Can Dr. Cuddihy send that questionnaire to the committee?

Special Committee on Covid-19 Response: Covid-19: Update on Testing and Tracing and Rising Incidence in the State (29 Sep 2020)

Michael McNamara: I thank Dr. Cuddihy for saying he will send us that questionnaire. Ms O'Beirne was to answer a question of Deputy Shortall's.

Special Committee on Covid-19 Response: Covid-19: Update on Testing and Tracing and Rising Incidence in the State (29 Sep 2020)

Michael McNamara: Three point five is the median time. What is the average?

Special Committee on Covid-19 Response: Covid-19: Update on Testing and Tracing and Rising Incidence in the State (29 Sep 2020)

Michael McNamara: I have to move on.

Special Committee on Covid-19 Response: Covid-19: Update on Testing and Tracing and Rising Incidence in the State (29 Sep 2020)

Michael McNamara: Deputy Shortall is asking if hospital figures are included in that.

Special Committee on Covid-19 Response: Covid-19: Update on Testing and Tracing and Rising Incidence in the State (29 Sep 2020)

Michael McNamara: Dr. Glynn told the committee that 40 critical care beds were sanctioned in March. In response to a question in the Dáil, the Taoiseach seemed to indicate that 27 were staffed and operational. It might be that they were not staffed at a given time because there was no need for them. Of the 40 sanctioned in March, how many been provided and could be used tomorrow morning if required?

Special Committee on Covid-19 Response: Covid-19: Update on Testing and Tracing and Rising Incidence in the State (29 Sep 2020)

Michael McNamara: Where are the other nine?

Special Committee on Covid-19 Response: Covid-19: Update on Testing and Tracing and Rising Incidence in the State (29 Sep 2020)

Michael McNamara: If they were needed in two days, could they be opened? They are available, are they?

Special Committee on Covid-19 Response: Covid-19: Update on Testing and Tracing and Rising Incidence in the State (29 Sep 2020)

Michael McNamara: My question was more specific. If the additional beds were needed in two or three days, they could be utilised. They are there; they are constructed.

Special Committee on Covid-19 Response: Covid-19: Update on Testing and Tracing and Rising Incidence in the State (29 Sep 2020)

Michael McNamara: How many more of those beds are there today than in March? I am not referring to the surge beds but to those referred to by Dr. Henry, which have been built up over time? I refer to critical care beds.

Special Committee on Covid-19 Response: Covid-19: Update on Testing and Tracing and Rising Incidence in the State (29 Sep 2020)

Michael McNamara: So Mr. Reid is saying there is a difference of 55. Is it correct that there were 225 by comparison with 280 now?

Special Committee on Covid-19 Response: Covid-19: Update on Testing and Tracing and Rising Incidence in the State (29 Sep 2020)

Michael McNamara: Is the HSE looking at the value of serial testing given the positivity rates, which are low, and the capacity it is eating up? Does Mr. Reid think serial testing represents a good use of resources given where we are at right now?