Reopening: Antigen tests to be sent to close contacts of confirmed Covid cases

Health Minister Stephen Donnelly has hinted that the sending of antigen tests to close contacts will be among the measures signed off by Cabinet today. File Picture: PA

Antigen test kits are to be sent to close contacts of Covid cases under new measures being signed off on by the Cabinet on Tuesday morning.

The Cabinet is meeting at Dublin Castle to decide what course of action to take ahead of the planned easing of all remaining Covid-19 restrictions on October 22.

However, Health Minister Stephen Donnelly has warned the full easing of all restrictions as had been planned from this Friday would result in a massive spike in hospital and ICU admissions.

"If we were to remove all restrictions from this Friday, the modelling suggests that we could, by the end of November, be at about 800 to 1,000 hospital cases," he said.

Speaking on his way into Tuesday's Cabinet meeting, Mr Donnelly confirmed nightclubs would be allowed to reopen from this weekend. However, additional safety measures will be required.

He said the use of antigen testing will now be expanded to include the close contacts of anyone who tests positive for the virus.

It is clear that in light of high case numbers and lingering concern over the capacity of the health service to cope, ministers are likely to agree that some restrictions will remain.

Stephen Donnelly was speaking ahead of a Cabinet meeting this morning.

According to sources, the use of vaccine certs in pubs and restaurants is likely to be extended, with mask-wearing and social distancing to continue in some settings.

Speaking on his way into Cabinet, Taoiseach Micheál Martin said they have to be careful.

“We are in a much different position to last year,” he said. “We have reopened significant sections of society with significant impact on the economy – to the better.

“I think we need to protect all of that and we need to proceed with caution over the next number of months to defeat this virus."

Mr Martin said the Government’s vaccine advisory body, Niac, has recommended an extension of the vaccine booster programme to the over-60s.

“I think that is a significant decision that will help in dealing with the ongoing challenge of Delta and of Covid,” he said.

“In addition to that, there is a whole range of measures Nphet is recommending around behaviour and around the continuing use of masks in a whole range of settings and also in terms of the vaccination certificates which Government will consider later.”