Sources in contact tracing centres say the current system of checking passengers, via flight manifests provided by the airlines, is wholly inadequate for the purpose of tracking infections

Members of the Oireachtas health committee sought answers as to why recruitment hadn't taken place during the summer.

Paul Reid estimated there is around four or five contacts per person who were missed.

Eight months into the pandemic, it appears that the recruitment of full-time dedicated contact tracers is only beginning with 400 currently working in the system

Reopening after mid-term will only happen only if contact tracing is elevated, unions warn

Three days is considered the limit in which contract tracing can prove useful in suppressing Covid-19

Prof Phlip Nolan: 'The subtle message is to reduce your social contacts by half and, if we do that, Dublin can move down from level 3 to level 2 and other counties will be able to avoid those restrictions that were imposed on Dublin.'

The Government has trained a small army of people in contact tracing, the key human-led offensive weapon in the battle against Covid-19. But as things stand major question marks surround the efficacy of the system, at least in its Irish context, suggests Cianan Brennan.