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A GP has said that entire household cases testing positive for Covid-19 have risen in the past two weeks as positivity rates rise.
Earlier today, HSE CEO Paul Reid said GPs have been “overwhelmed” with some seeing up to 90% of patients referred for testing receiving positive results.
Illona Duffy, Monaghan GP, said his practice has seen an increase in test referrals since the week before Christmas.
“We started to see the levels of those who showed us symptoms rise, and then an increase in positivity,” he said. TheJournal.ie.
“We have had 39 positives today over the weekend and since New Year’s Eve, but really, the important thing is that almost half of the tests have been positive.”
Duffy previously said that many people had symptoms, but the positivity rates were much lower.
Nationwide, the positivity rate is around 20% on average over the past seven days.
“We see a lot of family groups and everyone is infected in the house, where before we might have one or two of them testing positive or becoming symptomatic after a confirmed case,” Duffy said.
It was confirmed on New Year’s Eve that close contacts of confirmed Covid-19 cases would no longer be recommended to get tested due to the widespread level of infection and increased pressure on the testing system.
This was described as a “temporary measure” and close contacts are still advised to restrict movement for 14 days.
Medical Director Dr. Tony Holohan said this change was made to “support the testing system during this surge.”
Duffy said she doesn’t think people fully understand the rules for isolating themselves as close contacts.
“People understand that if they have symptoms, they should stay away from people.
But some people who are asymptomatic and are close contacts do not believe they have it or do not believe that they will get it and do not believe that they can pass it on to other people.
Duffy said some are upset that they can’t get tested without symptoms.
“In fact, I think the negative tests that were done on many gave them false hope and made them more likely to come out of quarantine.”
He said family and friends “need to pressure people” who are close contacts of a confirmed case to stay home even if they have no symptoms.
Regarding the new symptoms presented, Duffy said that, in his experience, half of the patients who came to his consultation in the last days “have a severe nasal congestion.”
He said these sinus-like symptoms are important to be aware of, but that they are not on the official list of HSE symptoms at this time.
What to do if you have symptoms
Currently, a GP refers anyone showing symptoms of Covid-19 for a free trial.
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If you show symptoms, the advice is to isolate yourself immediately in your room and call a GP immediately. Your GP will decide if you need a Covid-19 test.
Other people in your household must restrict your movements.
Common symptoms are:
- Fever (temperature of 38 degrees Celsius or higher)
- A new cough
- Shortness of breath or trouble breathing
- Loss or change of taste or smell
Before last week, close contacts of confirmed cases were also referred for testing five or six days after the last day they were in contact with the positive case.
What to do if you are a close contact of a confirmed case
If you are a close contact of a confirmed case, you should restrict your movements for 14 days and stay home even if you don’t have any symptoms.
Restricting movement means avoiding social situations with other people and staying home as much as possible.
You can still go outside to exercise if you keep a distance of two meters from others.
If you have symptoms of Covid-19, call a GP for advice and a possible test recommendation.
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