The HSE is considering prioritising at-risk patients for COVID-19 testing.
The health service said it regrets the large waiting lists for testing – which saw 40,000 awaiting a test as of Sunday.
It said there is “considerable pressure” on the testing system – with the availability of tests, testing centres and laboratory capacity an ongoing issue.
Officials said they are making “considerable progress” in all three areas; however, it confirmed that it will discuss the possibility of prioritising certain patients at tomorrow’s meeting of the National Public Health Emergency Team.
Members of the Defence Forces and the HSE wearing face masks at a test centre at the LÉ Samuel Beckett in Dublin’s Docklands, 21-03-2020. Image: Sam Boal/RollingNewsYesterday the Health Minister Simon Harris said the country would be importing 100,000 testing kits every week from next week.
He said there would be 50 COVID-19 testing centres open around the country in the coming days.
Anyone who is experiencing symptoms is urged to self-isolate regardless of whether they are tested for the virus.
With reporting from Stephen Murphy
