Pat Buckley (Cork East, Sinn Fein)
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740. To ask the Minister for Health the reason at least one nominated pharmacist in each town and village in east County Cork cannot administer the PCR tests; the reason this service is not being rolled out with families travelling from Youghal to Cork city to obtain this test; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [59134/21]

Stephen Donnelly (Wicklow, Fianna Fail)
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People who have symptoms of Covid-19 or who are referred for a test because they may have Covid-19 are advised to self-isolate while waiting for the test. This includes staying indoors completely avoiding contact with other people until going for the test and while waiting for their test result.

PCR testing is conducted at centres established specifically for this purpose by the HSE where the movement of people for testing purposes is controlled, where the staff manning the centres have been trained in infection prevention and control measures and where attendance of other people not involved in the testing process is limited. To direct people to pharmacies would be encouraging people who potentially have the virus in to retail outlets where they may spread the infection through coming in to contact with other people. This would not be consistent with public health advise to minimise contact until the results of a test are known.