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The country’s medical director says he did not publicly announce a target of 100,000 Covid-19 tests per week to pressure the HSE.
Letters released today by HSE CEO Paul Reid to Jim Breslin, Secretary of the Department of Health, dated April 19, state that Reid was “extremely disappointed” with Medical Director Dr. Tony Holohan, after that he said at a press conference about the figure.
Speaking as 10 other deaths from the virus were announced, with a total of 1,506 deaths from the disease in Ireland, Dr. Holohan said it was not a case that attempted to publicly influence the speed with which HSE increased its testing. .
Dr. Holohan said the figure was discussed by NPHET and was reported to HSE.
“There have been communication difficulties and so on, but you’re talking about an NPHET meeting that dates back almost a month.”
“It would be implausible to think that there were no disagreements from time to time.”
Dr. Holohan said there were stresses in any high pressure work scenario and that in some cases it can guarantee better work. He said that Mr. Breslin had responded to the letter, but was not aware of the content of the letter.
Dr. Colm Henry, Clinical Director, said there were tensions between people working to fight the virus, but this was natural.
“Our hospital staff is working hard, thousands of employees work seven days a week, and we configure our healthcare system into a Covid system.”
“Then, in such an environment, it will be impossible for me to say that there are no tensions and that there is no exchange of frustrations, but for me, at the end of all this, it is that we work together to solve things and that is what happened in this trial regimen. ”
Dr. Holohan said the sharp rise in the number of cases, to 426 from 159 the previous day, was due to a backlog of notifications from a hospital. At least 200 cases, some dating from mid-March, were not reported until earlier this week.
Dr. Holohan said the increase in cases did not represent a new wave of infections and that he was taking steps to ensure that other hospitals did not fail to notify the Health Department of the disease.
This is a large number of cases that were not reported to us. And what I mean is that no one here is interpreting this as part of a new wave of infection.
“These are a large number of cases that span a very long period from mid-March. The vast majority of hospitals are responsible and legally obliged to take steps to prevent these cases.”
Dr. Holohan said he was not yet in a position to tell the public what advice he had given the Cabinet before tomorrow’s expected announcement of easing the restrictions. Ireland will move to Phase One of its roadmap to reopen parts of the economy on Monday, if NPHET reports that it is safe to do so.
However, he said the use of facial covers would be “important” in the next phase of fighting the disease.
Taoiseach Leo Varadkar is expected to announce the government’s decision on restrictions tomorrow.
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