Record high 20,554 cases as health minister announces changes to Covid testing and isolation periods

Picture: Sasko Lazarov / RollingNews.ie

A record high 20,554 cases have been confirmed as the health minister has announced changes to Covid testing and isolation periods following concerns from the Chief Medical Officer. 

It is the fourth time this week that a new record high number of cases were confirmed by health officials, with the surge attributed to the Omicron variant, which accounts for over 90% of PCR confirmed cases. 

Currently, 619 people are hospitalised with the virus, of which 88 are in ICU.

In response to the enormous demand on testing services, health minister Stephen Donnelly has announced a series of changes in testing requirement, including: 

• Symptomatic individuals aged four to 39 should self-isolate immediately and undertake regular antigen tests rather than booking a PCR test. 
• Anyone with an antigen test that detects Covid-19 should seek a confirmatory PCR test. 
• Those with repeated ‘not detected’ antigen tests should continue to self-isolate until 48 hours after their symptoms have resolved.
• Symptomatic healthcare workers should continue to seek a PCR test.
• As per current advice, anyone with an underlying condition that puts them at higher risk of severe disease or anyone who has a clinical concern should contact their GP.
• All other symptomatic individuals (those aged 0-3 years and those aged older than 40 years) should seek a PCR test as soon as they display symptoms of Covid-19.

Mr Donnelly also announced changes to isolation requirement. He said those aged 13 and older who are at least seven days post booster vaccination or have completed their primary vaccination course and have had the virus within the previous three months, should self-isolate for a minimum of seven days from when symptoms began if they no longer present symptoms.

Those exiting isolation after seven days should:

• Limit to the greatest extent possible close contact with other people outside their household, especially in crowded, enclosed or poorly ventilated spaces 
• Wear a face mask in crowded, enclosed or poorly ventilated spaces and where they are in close contact with other people 
• Take an antigen test before entering crowded, enclosed or poorly ventilated spaces and prior to having close contact with other people from outside their household 
• Avoid contact with anyone who is at higher risk of severe illness if infected with Covid-19 
• Work from home unless it is essential to attend in person 

Mr Donnelly also added: “Disease incidence has continued to rapidly increase in Ireland, with recent daily case counts substantially exceeding the highest previously reported in the pandemic to date. 

"The 14-day incidence is now estimated at over 2,300 per 100,000 population. We are seeing levels of new daily cases in hospital that we have not seen since last January. 

The latest data on S-gene target failure data indicates that approximately 92% of cases are due to the Omicron variant.

“Remember to layer up on all of the protective measures available to us including mask-wearing, good ventilation, antigen testing and adherence to other public health guidance.”

Dr Ronan Glynn, Deputy CMO has said to date over two million people have received their booster vaccine, calling it a "significant uptake" and without it, the current impact on hospitalisation would be "considerably worse."

In a letter sent to Mr Donnelly this evening, the CMO raised concerns around the latest Covid-19 advice, which also includes an update on the Omicron situation.

Dr Holohan is also urging people not to hold parties or New Year's Eve or gatherings in their homes and to keep their social contacts low.

Regarding New Years' celebrations, the CMO has advised people not to meet this weekend and keep social contacts as low as possible in the days ahead.

"I know this is not the advice any one of us wants to hear, particularly in advance of New Year celebrations.

“In the last 24 hours, 148 people with Covid-19 were either admitted to hospital or received a “detected” test result while in hospital."

"Hospitalisations at this level are not sustainable and are having a significant impact on our health service," he said.