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With increasing pressure on Ireland’s Covid-19 testing and tracing system, the HSE has announced that close contacts of a confirmed case will no longer be referred for testing as of Thursday.
Here you will find everything you need to know about the system changes, from why you are taking this step to what to do if you think it may be a close contact or have symptoms of the virus.
Why is this step being taken?
The HSE said close contacts will no longer be tested as a temporary measure to maintain effective response times for testing and contact tracing.
This step is being taken to ensure that those with symptoms are prioritized and tested as quickly as possible.
It is also to support contact tracing teams that are working “under significant pressure” due to increasing test positivity rates.
Is the test and trace system overwhelmed?
The system has the capacity to process 25,000 tests per day and to make 7,500 successful calls to contact the positive case tracking.
The HSE said the service has been in “maximum escalation” for the past week, reporting numbers that exceed the declared capacity of the system.
On Wednesday, more than 26,000 swabs were processed and more than 2,300 calls were made to people with a detected Covid-19 result, while almost 11,000 calls were made to close contacts.
HSE Clinical Director Dr. Colm Henry has described the current pressure on testing and tracing services as unsustainable.
I already have a test reservation, should I go?
If you already have an HSE trial space reservation, please keep your appointment.
Does any of this affect me if I am not a close contact for a Covid-19 case?
Amid very high positive test rates seen in recent days and a widespread increase in infections in communities across the country, the HSE is asking everyone in Ireland to stay home.
Everyone is being asked to behave as if they are infected with Covid-19, as such high levels are circulating in the community.
What should close contacts do now if they are no longer tested?
People who know they are a close contact for a confirmed case, whether they have received an SMS notification or otherwise, should follow existing public health guidelines and restrict their movements for 14 days.
If they develop symptoms of the disease, they should immediately call their GP or after-hours health care service and schedule a Covid-19 test.
If the HSE is notified that a person is a close contact, it will send an SMS alert. This tip is also available here on the HSE website.
Can I still get tested if I have Covid-19 symptoms?
Those with symptoms of Covid-19 will be evaluated and should contact their GP or health care service after hours to arrange a test.
The HSE asks those waiting for a test to be patient, as GP services are busy amid high levels of Covid-19 in the community.
Those awaiting a test should isolate themselves and remain alone in their room to protect others.
My GP has already recommended me for a test, will it continue to happen?
The HSE will offer you a test as soon as possible. You will receive this by SMS.
Those awaiting a test should continue to isolate themselves and stay in their room to protect others.
People in your household should also restrict their movements in the unit that has their test result, to stop the spread of Covide-19 to other people.
The HSE website has tips on how to manage symptoms and tips on what to do if symptoms get worse.
I already received a text message telling me that I am a close contact, will I be tested?
The HSE will not offer trial spaces to close contacts if they have not already received one.
All close contacts must stay home for 14 days, the same requirement that would apply if they had tested positive or negative for the disease.
I think it could be a close contact, what should I do?
The advice is that the HSE will not conduct any non-symptomatic suspicious close contact testing due to pressure on the test and trace system; however, you should schedule a test through your GP if you have symptoms.
Close contacts of a positive case must restrict their movements for 14 days to ensure that they do not transmit the disease. Counseling is available here on the HSE website.
I received a positive Covid-19 test result by SMS, what should I do now?
Those who are positive for Covid-19 should continue to isolate themselves in their room to protect others.
People in your home should also restrict their movements to stop the spread of Covid-19 to others.
The HSE will call you on the phone to ask about your close contacts and then text your close contacts with advice.
The advice for close contacts is on the HSE website at the link: https://hse.ie/cvdcc, so you can send this link to your close contacts now if you wish.
The HSE website also offers tips on how to manage symptoms and what to do if symptoms get worse.
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