Dr Denis McAuley, said PCR tests are less critical than self-isolating and limiting social activities.
Speaking on RTÉ’s News at One, Dr McCauley described the virus as being “rampant”, but with positive tests rather than people getting very sick.
He said having symptoms or being a close contact of someone with the virus, or a positive antigen test, is the starting point for people to self-isolate; he said a positive PCR test is not the “starting line”.
The Chairperson of the Irish Medical Organisation’s GP Committee said there will be an increase in PCR testing but that it will become “less important because of the high positivity rate in the community.”
“I would hate testing to become the critical issue” he said, adding that it was important for people to limit their socialisation and to self-isolate if they have symptoms.
He said changes to the current rules about the length of time people have to self-isolate will have to be considered, and that there might have to be special derogations for essential workers who are deemed close contacts.
