Dublin’s Pygmalion nightclub is offering free antigen tests to all ticket holders.
The South William Street club has said customers will need a negative result to gain entry, while anyone that tests positive will be offered refund.
Under Government guidelines, all customers also need a COVID cert to get in.
🆕🧪Pygmalion nightclub in Dublin will offer free antigen tests to all ticket holders.
A negative result will be needed for entry to the club.
If the result is positive a refund for the ticket will be offered.
— Ben Finnegan (@_BenFinnegan) November 15, 2021
A Pygmalion spokesperson said the move is best practice when it comes to protecting staff and customers.
“Tests will be self-administered and there will be assistance available, if necessary,” said the spokesperson.
“Countries such as Germany and Sweden have had success with antigen testing, with support from their respective governments in implementing testing.
“Research shows rapid tests are 99.9% accurate. This means the chance of getting a false-positive result (where the result shows as positive but is actually negative) is extremely low.”
The club said it introduced the policy after seeing how venues in Europe were able to reopen safely with antigen testing in place.
On Lunchtime Live this afternoon, Dr Denis McCauley, Chair of the Irish Medical Organisation’s (IMO) GP Committee said antigen tests can offer people added reassurance, provided they are following the regulations that are already in place.
He said there are real concerns about people using them as a green light to socialise when they are symptomatic and should be staying at home.
“Most of them are being used by people who are symptomatic and it is allowing them to absolve themselves then from following the normal protocols, which is a worry,” he said.
“They give added value to the protocols that are there, they don’t give you absolution from following the protocol.
“People are symptomatic, they are taking an antigen test, it is negative and they are saying ‘oh that’s fine, I can just go to work or send my child to school.’
“In fact, no, that is the opposite of what should happen. If they have a viral infection and they are sick, they should stay at home. They shouldn’t go out until they are free of their symptoms and during that time, they should have a PCR test.
“So, antigen tests are giving people false reassurance.”
He said the tests have a role to play where people are feeling healthy and want to reassure themselves before heading out to socialise.
He urged anyone experiencing symptoms to self-isolate an organise a PCR test. Anyone who is unvaccinated and has been designated a close contact should also seek a PCR test.
“I think it has to be explained very clearly the limited use these tests have,” he said. “They are there to reassure, they are not there to replace the protocols that are there.”
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With reporting from Ben Finnegan
