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THE WEEKS BEFORE Christmas usually means completing a checklist as long as Santa’s famous ledger, but for many this year, a Covid-19 test is an unexpected addition.
We are now less than two weeks away from the big day and people are already being asked to cut off their contacts if they plan to see vulnerable loved ones.
Special care is also required of people who travel to this country at Christmas, with almost all arrivals at this time technically requires a two week period of movement restrictions.
However, with the changes introduced last month, all arrivals to this country can end their movement restriction much sooner if they obtain a negative Covid-19 PCR test.
The test must be taken at least five days after people arrive here, so it is still an imposition and involves almost a week of movement restriction, but it is much more doable.
All this care and attention means that private testing is about to have its busiest period in this country.
Testing done through the HSE is still done under the same criteria, having symptoms or being a close contact, but asymptomatic private testing is a growing business.
The largest facility of its kind for private testing is the test center at Dublin Airport operated by RodDoc.
The site has both drive-through and drive-through testing facilities and recently opened a new lab building to replace the mobile unit that had been testing the swabs.
RocDoc CEO David Rock said TheJournal.ie They have “in the ballpark” of around 300 to 400 tests per day at the Dublin airport facility over Christmas, but that this could increase as more bookings are made.
“There are some days that are above that and there is definitely still capacity, we are currently hiring more staff so that we can open up more in the coming weeks. There’s only one or two pinch points, so it’s not too bad, ”he says.
Test slots are available between 8 a.m. M. And 8 p.m. M. With results expected 12 to 36 hours later for PCR tests.
RocDoc also operates test centers at Cork, Shannon and Knock airports, but the company cannot be sure which part of the testing it is conducting relates to people who have recently arrived in Ireland. It is not necessary for people to prove whether they have returned to Ireland and are seeking proof for that reason.
Rock estimates that perhaps 40-50 tests a day at this time are travel-related, but this is likely to increase in the run-up to Christmas.
What is clear from it is that while travel-related testing was assumed to be where the demand would be, people living in Ireland have also been seeking evidence as part of a cautious approach.
This is also the experience of Boots Ireland, which is currently testing for Covid-19 at seven branches across the country, with more expected to go live in the next week.
A quick look at the online booking portal for the days around Christmas shows that the Dawson Street branch is reserved for Covid-19 testing, with only a handful available in Nass and only two in Galway.
Boots on Dawson Street where Covid-19 tests are available.
Source: RollingNews.ie
Boots Ireland Pharmacist and Regulatory Affairs Manager Heather Feeney says testing is available for four hours starting at 9 a.m. M., But if the demand allows it, they could be extended further.
“Dublin has been incredibly busy and the other stores, like Galways and Letterkennys, have also filled up significantly. And what we have noticed is that much of the demand that has emerged in recent weeks is filling the week of Christmas, “he says.
“We have scope to extend clinic hours, so if it’s somewhere like Tullamore where the closest store is 40 minutes away, we would have to extend clinic hours, but in places like Dublin we also have the option. of extending it to other stores. So I would be anticipating that we will implement more in Dublin over the next week. “
Feeney says there is “a lot of interest” from people staying within these shores but simply traveling home to see their loved ones.
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The way it works with testing on Boots is that people who book a test get pre-reassurance over the phone first and then show up at the store for a swab.
Each reservation is made within a six-minute interval, with specialized pharmacists on duty for the smear while another handles the usual dispensing.
We also tested them for Covid to make sure they are not living with someone who is waiting for a test or is showing no symptoms. And in the event that they have traveled to Ireland, they have been in Ireland for the required time.
“Our tests are done at night, so they go to the lab by courier at night and then run overnight,” adds Feeney.
Results are generally delivered the next day, either by text message, phone call, or via mobile app.
But as private testing is on the rise in this country, public health officials have urged caution, particularly in the run-up to Christmas.
The reason is twofold, firstly that a test only provides a snapshot of a particular moment and secondly that they can give people a false sense of security, meaning that safe behaviors such as distancing themselves are forgotten social and contact limitation.
Regarding the first point, it is possible that if someone were infected today, they might not test positive tomorrow, but then they could be contagious a week later when they see people.
“We just wouldn’t recommend that as a protective measure,” Dr. Ronan Glynn said when asked about the pre-Christmas testing on Thursday.
“If people want to protect their families, protect their loved ones, protect people with medical conditions that they will come in contact with in the next few weeks, there are many other avenues available to them. First of all, it’s about keeping your network very small, about meeting the same people. “
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