At present, the National Virus Reference Laboratory and partners undertake Whole Genome Sequencing on a proportion of all confirmed COVID-19 cases in Ireland, currently approximately 20% all COVID-19 cases nationally each week (approximately 1,000 samples per week).
Sequencing of all positive samples from travellers arriving in Ireland from a designated country is now undertaken. The aim is to use whole genome sequencing to inform and enhance the public health response to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Countries are designated under the Health Act 1947 by the Minister for Health following consultation with the Minister for Foreign Affairs and across Government as necessary. An Expert Advisory Group on Travel to the CMO (EAGT) was established on 1 March 2021 to develop a method of risk assessing countries and to consider broader issues of travel and COVID-19. In making recommendations the EAGT considers data published by HPSC, WHO and ECDC among a range of other sources. The Chief Medical Officer considers EAGT recommendations and in turn makes recommendations to the Minister for Health who decides designation of individual states.