Tipperary Covid-19 test centres to close this week as health advice shifts focus
Covid-19 testing centres in Tipperary are due to close this week in line with public health advice that testing is no longer recommended for the vast majority of people.
The move comes just over three years to the day the country went into its first lockdown as the pandemic gripped the world.
Just six cases of the disease were reported in Tipperary on the last day for which figures are available, March 26.
And there was just one person in ICU in University Hospital Limerick with severe Covid symptoms.
Tipperary had a number of test centres, including at Tyone in Nenagh, and Moyle Rovers GAA centre in Clonmel.
Centres for vaccination also operated while the vaccines were being rolled out, but the Nenagh centre closed some time back with people being directed to Limerick. These days most people needing a vaccine can get one at their local pharmacy, such has the nature of the disease changed over the three years.
It was announced this week that, in line with the new health advice, community testing centres across the country and the self-referral portal for ordering PCR tests are no longer required, and both will close on March 30.
Dr John Cuddihy, HSE National Director for Public Health said: “We are making these changes now based on best available evidence in relation to managing Covid-19, recognising the high level of vaccine-induced and naturally acquired population immunity in Ireland as well as the development of new treatments, all of which are mitigating the worst impacts of Covid-19 infection.
He said that testing for Covid-19 will not be necessary for the vast majority of the population. For most people, if they have symptoms of Covid-19 or other viral respiratory tract infections, they should stay at home and limit contact with others until 48 hours after their symptoms have substantially or fully resolved – they do not need to do a Covid-19 test.
Eileen Whelan, HSE lead for Covid-19 test and trace and vaccination, added: “From this Thursday, the self-referral portal on the HSE’s website, which enabled specific groups of the public book their own PCR test, will no longer be required and will close.”
Also from Thursday, health care workers who are household close contacts are no longer required to do antigen tests. Therefore, the current antigen-ordering portal on HSE.ie will also close. Specific guidance will be issued to health and care workers.
However, a reduced contact tracing service will remain and contact tracing will be limited to those who have had a positive test in settings and scenarios (such as hospitals and long term care facilities) where further transmission is likely, and could have serious impact based on Public Health Risk Assessment.
Both PCR and antigen testing will continue to be used by doctors in hospitals and General Practice settings for the purpose of diagnosing and deciding on the provision of treatment for Covid-19 to a patient.
Other mitigating factors for testing will also remain in place.