Walk-in COVID-19 tests have been suspended across the South-East, as HSE staff continue to battle with the ongoing fourth wave of COVID-19 across Ireland.
Test centres at St Dympna’s Hospital in Carlow, Moyle Rovers GAA in Clonmel, the Hebron Industrial Estate in Kilkenny , Waterford's Kilcohan and the Whitemills Industrial Park in Wexford have all suspended walk-in appointments, with the HSE asking people to book online if they want a test.
It's as the Executive say numbers getting tested in those centres have risen by a third, and have apologised to those who have had to wait at the centres as numbers of those testing positive have climbed following the return to school.
There are currently around 14 thousand children off school after being deemed a close contact, with health officials now considering if self-isolation rules should be changed, exempting children from self-isolating if they don't present symptoms.
"We're going to continue to have outbreaks all through the winter, in all school populations, because they're the people who are getting the infection" says Professor Jack Lambert from the UCD School of Medicine, who thinks antigen testing should be looked at.
Today's release from HSE South-East has also said that capacity has been increased nationwide to meet a demand of 20,000 tests daily, with those booking online still expected to get a same day test depending on when they book.
