Stephen Donnelly (Wicklow, Fianna Fail)
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The public health advice is that testing for COVID-19 is no longer recommended for most of the population.

Self-referral for PCR testing and ordering of antigen tests by the general public is closed. Routine serial testing in long-term residential care facilities has finished although it is available when necessary for managing an outbreak. Testing continues in acute settings according to the prevailing advice there.

We are no longer doing extensive testing and tracing of infection. This is because of the high level of vaccine-induced and naturally acquired population immunity in Ireland. This is mitigating against the worst impacts of infection for most people.

Covid-19 is still with us. Anybody with symptoms of a respiratory infection, such as Covid-19, should follow the public health advice. They should stay at home until 48 hours after the symptoms are mostly or fully gone.

We can now focus on managing the severe impacts of COVID-19 in those people most vulnerable to its effects. Anybody with concerns about an underlying condition or their level of risk should seek advice from their doctor. GPs can provide swabbing for COVID-19 in certain circumstances, such as when treatment with Paxlovid is being considered.

The COVID-19 situation is kept under continuing review by the Chief Medical Officer. This includes on-going assessment of current and future threats to population health.