Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 27 May 2020
547. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Health if he or his officials have engaged with a person (details supplied) regarding their advice on the significant need to upscale tracing and tracking here in order to avoid a second wave of the Covid-19 virus; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7474/20]
View answerA robust process of testing, isolation and contact tracing is central to Ireland’s public health strategy for containing and slowing the spread of COVID-19, as advocated by the World Health Organization and the European Centre for Disease Control. A testing and tracing process with sufficient capacity and quick turnaround is one of a number of core criteria in determining when it is safe for countries to reduce restrictive public health measures.
The HSE, together with the Department of Health and other bodies, has worked hard in the last two months to develop Ireland’s testing and tracing process, to expand capacity and to reduce turnaround times.
A designated team, led by a senior manager reporting directly to the CEO, has been established in the HSE to oversee the development, management and operation of Ireland’s testing and contact tracing process. This includes responsibility for the scaling up of capacity and the speeding up of turnaround times with a clear focus on achieving ambitious targets and continuous improvement. On 14 May the HSE launched its Roadmap for testing and tracing with clear targets and a range of actions to achieve these targets.
Significant progress has been made over the last two months. 47 community testing centres have been established; over 40 laboratories are processing tests; 9 new contact tracing centres have been set up and some 1,700 public servants have been trained in contact tracing to support the work of public health departments. A quick testing referral pathway for GPs is in place, and new IT systems have been developed or modified. The HSE advise that it now has the capacity to test 15,000 people a day and median turnaround times have continued to improve.
It is important to recognise these systems and capacity have been developed from a standing start and to recognise the tremendous work which has gone into getting us to the point we are now at. It is also important to recognise the context in which this is happening: Ireland is already testing at a higher rate than most countries and our targets are ambitious. Data published on 18 May shows Ireland ranks 4th highest out of 25 EU+UK countries in terms of tests completed as a percentage of the overall population.
Ireland's testing strategy has evolved as our testing capacity has grown. A number of changes have been made to the case definition so that anyone presenting with acute respiratory infection comprising the sudden onset of least one of the following symptoms (cough, fever, shortness of breath) can be referred for testing. A mass testing programme across nursing homes, mental health and disability facilities is nearing completion, and, as of last week, all close contacts of someone with Covid-19 will be automatically referred for testing. Our testing strategy will continue to be kept under review by the National Public Health Emergency Team (NPHET).
In relation to the specific question raised, I have not had any direct engagement with the person referred to and I'm not aware of any engagement with my officials.
