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Increased pressure on the Covid-19 testing system could create a scenario where people with symptoms of the disease are not automatically screened, an organization of doctors has warned.
Dr Nuala O’Connor, Covid-19 Clinical Director for the Irish College of General Practitioners, told her medical colleagues that it is “possible that in the next few weeks we may re-test targeting symptomatic groups rather than assessing all the people with symptoms as we did in the first phase of the pandemic ”.
The third wave also means that close contacts will not be tested for the foreseeable future, he stated in a letter updating the Covid-19 guide for GPs.
Instead, it states that family members living with people who have Covid-19 should self-isolate for 17 days instead of the current 14 days. If a close contact does not know when they were last in contact with a positive case, then they must remain home for 14 days from the date they are notified of the exposure.
Dr. O’Connor recommends that due to the pressures in the system today, those who test positive for Covid-19 should inform their close contacts prior to formal contact from the contact tracing system.
Currently, there is capacity for 25,000 tests per day, and 40 percent of tests in recent weeks were from close contacts. He said close contacts should get tested if they live with someone who is medically vulnerable.
Exceptions should also be made for healthcare workers who are close contacts and for travelers from the mainland UK and South Africa.
“They need to isolate themselves for 14 days and take a test on day five. If they test positive, their close contacts need a test on day five and should be referred by their GP, ”he said.
Community levels
On Sunday, the IGCP sent a follow-up letter warning that Covid-19 levels in the community are projected to “exceed the first and second waves” in the coming weeks.
“Protecting GP practice teams and our patients who need to be seen face-to-face in surgery from acquiring Covid should be our primary goal during January, the letter says.
“Each practice will have to assess how they are going to manage the level of face-to-face care that they can safely provide.”
The letter further stated that he was aware of the concerns of GPs regarding the absence of a schedule for vaccinating them and their staff.
“We wish to reaffirm that we are actively participating together with our IMO colleagues with all relevant authorities to confirm the deployment of vaccination at GP Practices. More updates will be provided as the week progresses, ”reads the letter signed by IGCP President Margaret O’Riordan, its President, Dr. John Farrell, its Covid Senior Medical Director, Dr. Diarmuid Quinlan and the Dr. O’Connor.
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