Covid-19 testing to ramp up to 4,500 per day in ‘really crucial week’

The Government has ruled out directing people to wear face masks in an effort to slow the spread of Covid-19.

Health Minister Simon Harris said a “really crucial week” lay ahead, as HSE chief Paul Reid said that, due to an increase of laboratory capacity, tests will increase from 2,500 to 4,500 a day — but warned that the supply of the reagent needed for tests remains a “significant worldwide challenge”.

Testing had dropped to 1,500 a day late last week due to issues with the availability of the reagent. There had been a goal of 15,000 tests per day, but the lack of reagent severely hampered this target.