Covid testing for general population in Ireland ends this autumn

DUBLIN: Covid-19 testing for the general population in Ireland is set to end this autumn. It also means there will be no general Covid-19 testing facilities across the country from autumn. The decision was made on the recommendation of Acting Chief Medical Officer Breda Smyth.

Anyone seeking to get a Covid-19 test after discontinuation should check with their GP or clinician. However, it is not clear whether this will include tests that are sent out by the HSE or just PCR tests.

Meanwhile, the HSE is now preparing to develop emergency response plans for testing and tracing due to uncertainty about the future spread of Covid.

The new recommendations from Prof. Breda Smyth will see changes to how booster vaccines are administered, including second and third boosters for those with underlying conditions and the immunocompromised respectively.

The National Immunisation Advisory Committee (NIAC) has recommended that covid-19 vaccines and seasonal flu vaccines be given at the same time.