Pilot programme of antigen testing for international travel a 'good idea', says Holohan

Dr Tony Holohan, chief medical officer, who is addressing the Oireachtas Transport Committee on the use of antigen testing. Picture: Brian Lawless/PA Wire

The head of the National Public Health Emergency Team (Nphet) has conceded that it would be a “good idea” to run a pilot programme of rapid antigen testing for people boarding international flights.

Tony Holohan, the chief medical officer, told the Oireachtas Transport Committee under persistent questioning on the subject that “so far as those tests can” efficiently track cases of Covid then “of course, it’s a good idea”.