A GP has said the HSE's COVID Tracker App is working and detecting cases of the virus.
Dr Nuala O'Connor is the clinical lead on COVID-19 with the Irish College of General Practitioners.
She told On The Record: "I think it's fantastic that so many Irish people have downloaded the app and signed up for this.
"I think it's just a testament of the response that we have had - this wonderful community response that we've had - in terms of trying to fight COVID-19 in Ireland."
"Already it is working and it is picking up cases.
"Any of you listening out there who haven't done it we'd encourage you to please download the app.
"It's another way to protect you, your family and your circle of friends."
"If inadvertently you have been exposed to this COVID virus... it's going to anonymously tell you that you have been within two metres of somebody who subsequently tested positive for more than 15 minutes - which means you may have been exposed to that virus.
"Even if you've no symptoms, that's the time then that you need to go for a test".
However she said there is evidence that people with symptoms are holding off reporting them.
"It's a strange one, Gavan, cause normally we're trying to encourage people to self-care for self-limiting viral illnesses.
"So it's a strange one for us to try to get across to people that, with COVID-19, we now know that some people have very, very mild symptoms - in fact a lot of people actually have no symptoms at all.
"So what we need people to do is even if they have very mild symptoms - normally they'd think 'I'm just coming down with a bit of a cold' - that they don't ignore that.
"They don't have to come and physically see a GP, but we do need for people to come forward so they can be tested.
"So they contact their GP during the week, and we now have a system in the out of hours - where if you phone the out of hours with mild symptoms at the weekend, we can also schedule you for a COVID test and then the result of that test will go back to your personal GP".
"Most tests will be completed within 24 to 48 hours and that's what we need to do".
"What we need to do is track and trace all of the cases.
"What we know what's different about this virus compared to the early stages is we now know that it's possible that you could actually transmit this virus when you don't have any symptoms at all at that 24/48 just before you develop symptoms."
"We certainly have evidence that that is happening - so this is where our message is if you feel like you're coming down with anything at all please take yourself out of circulation.
"If you were meant to meet friends for dinner, if you were meant to go to a sporting event, whatever it was: please do not go, take yourself out of circulation and contact your GP".
"Your highest risk is when you're shedding the most virus, and that is really when you develop symptoms.
"But because we know there is a small but definite risk of transmitting it just before that, that's why it's important to take yourself out of circulation."
People are also being encouraged to register with a GP, which is free to do.
