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Dr Cillian De Gascun of the National Virus Reference Laboratory. RollingNews.ie

Covid-19: Ireland is still way short of its testing targets, but where do we rank globally?

Ireland has now completed 42,484 tests for Covid-19.

THE DEPARTMENT OF Health has said this evening that Ireland has completed 42,484 tests for Covid-19 as of midnight last night. 

That number is up from a figure of 30,213 provided by the department this day last week. 

The numbers mean that 12,271 tests have been completed in the past week, still some way short of the stated goal of 15,000 tests per day. 

Speaking at press briefing this evening, Dr Cillian De Gascun of the National Virus Reference Laboratory said that the country is still “a number of weeks away” from reaching that target of 15,000 tests per day. 

He estimated that the country hopes to reach that capacity “over the next three to four weeks”. 

“Our difficulties with testing have been well documented but I think it’s important to highlight that we are still testing at a significant rate and that number of 12,271 actually accounts for about 40% of all of the testing that we’ve done to date has been done in the last week and that’s across the country,” De Gascun said.

A fortnight ago the Department of Health tightened its testing criteria in an effort to find more people who have the coronavirus. 

After making that change, positivity rate for coronavirus testing increased from 6% t0 15% and the department said this evening that that rate has increased again to 19%.

Health officials have said on a number of occasions that the number of tests carried out in Ireland puts the country in the “top tier” in terms of testing. 

Speaking yesterday evening, deputy chief medical officer Dr Ronan Glynn again said that Ireland’s numbers are among the highest internationally. 

“When you examine Ireland tests per million. We are in the top-tier obviously that changes day on day and it changes week on week,” Glynn said.

So when we give the figure tomorrow then that can go into those reporting tools and our performance against other countries can be assessed. But what’s been very clear, over the past period is that the issues we’ve had around testing notwithstanding, we’re still testing very significantly greater numbers proportionately than many other countries are doing. 

As Glynn mentioned, the common approach to gauging testing rates across countries with different population is by giving the figure per million of population. 

The 42,484 tests carried out in Ireland gives the country a testing rate of 8,663 tests per million. Last week, Ireland was at a testing rate of 6,165 tests per million. 

The UK’s Department of Health today confirmed that 213,181 tests have been completed, giving it a testing rate of 3,199 tests per million.  

full-list-cumulative-total-tests-per-million (2) Testing rates globally as per Monday (Ireland not included). https: / /ourworldindata.org/ https: / /ourworldindata.org/ / /ourworldindata.org/

By way of comparison, Our World in Data collates the testing rates across a range of countries worldwide. 

Judging by those numbers across a range of developed countries, Ireland comes in with similar testing levels as countries such as Denmark and South Korea and ahead of some EU peers but behind some of the leading countries worldwide. 

Speaking this evening, Glynn said the department hasn’t yet compared Ireland’s testing numbers “vis-a-vis” other countries. 

“I’m happy to come back and answer that question for you tomorrow,” he said.

Chief Clinical Officer at the HSE Dr Colm Henry added that testing strategies across different countries “are not the same”. 

“From early on in this country there’s been a testing strategy, notwithstanding the difficulties we faced, and in other countries there hasn’t been the same focus in testing. Yet the WHO have been very clear that a significant linchpin in the battle against Covid-19 is testing,” he said. 

DeGascun also said this evening that the wait-time for people who aren’t healthcare workers or in hospital to get test results after being swabbed was “in the region of seven to 10 days”. 

“We are prioritising cases from hospitals and healthcare workers because of the limitations on our capacity, turnaround time for those individuals is probably still in the region of 24 to 48 hours I would imagine,” he said 

Asked by TheJournal.ie about delays for people getting results back after being swabbed, Henry acknowledged that “difficulties with our testing at lab level” has led to “increased turnaround times”. 

“We’re confident now based on the other suppliers we have a mainland Europe that we’re able to shorten those turnaround times down to a much more acceptable level,” he added. 

- With reporting by Michelle Hennessy

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    Mute william looby
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    Dec 21st 2015, 2:31 PM

    Please stop searching twitter posts and pretending that it is news. Be a journalist, not a hack.

    187
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    Mute Batdroid
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    Dec 21st 2015, 3:02 PM

    Twitter the one big fartbox echo chamber

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    Mute Gary
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    Dec 21st 2015, 4:43 PM

    “Fartbox echo chamber” lol. Very good. You definitely nailed it.

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    Mute Crom Cruach
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    Dec 21st 2015, 8:18 PM

    You do realise that you’re logged in via Twitter, yes?

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    Mute Batdroid
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    Dec 22nd 2015, 12:08 AM

    Yes I know. I only use it for here. I don’t enter the dreaded fartbox

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    Mute family guy
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    Dec 21st 2015, 1:32 PM

    What does it matter what skin colour she has. As long as she can act.

    157
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    Mute Grigori Rasputin
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    Dec 21st 2015, 1:35 PM

    Or can actually do magic.

    127
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    Mute Fozz
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    Dec 21st 2015, 1:37 PM

    and cast spells…

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    Mute TheBull
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    Dec 21st 2015, 1:40 PM

    The vast majority of the people complaing went even see it. They just like complaing.

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    Mute Rob Cahill
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    Dec 21st 2015, 1:42 PM

    colour doesn’t matter…but they could of went with 3 younger actors no??!

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    Mute luke frankus
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    Dec 21st 2015, 1:57 PM

    @Rob. No, actually!. It’s supposed to be about their life when their older. Harry has a wife and school aged children!. But only the people who actually read the article would know that…

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    Mute Joe MacCarthaigh
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    Dec 21st 2015, 2:07 PM

    The character of Hermoine is white, always has been always will. This is just pandering to the pc crowd.

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    Mute Joe MacCarthaigh
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    Dec 21st 2015, 2:08 PM

    If it’s about their life when their older how will they explain Hermoine changing skin tone? Rachel Dolezal stuff.

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    Mute luke frankus
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    Dec 21st 2015, 2:10 PM

    You obviously didn’t read the article either, Joe.

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    Mute Joe Phillips
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    Dec 21st 2015, 2:13 PM

    Joe, you should have a word with JK. She thinks that whoever invented the character never actually specified skin tone but she obviously hasn’t seen your notes, which I presume she must have received before inventing the character.

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    Mute Joe MacCarthaigh
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    Dec 21st 2015, 2:20 PM

    I’ve seen all the films, Hermoine is white as snow.

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    Mute Debi Nikita
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    Dec 21st 2015, 2:28 PM

    She’s magic, Joe. She can change into anything she wants. That’s the beauty of being magical.

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    Mute family guy
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    Dec 21st 2015, 2:30 PM

    It’s only a book and film will people chill out. There are alot more serious things going on.

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    Mute Imperator Isachukwu
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    Dec 21st 2015, 2:31 PM

    Exactly the view most folk would have family guy. Unfortunately Social Justice types are jumping on the race bandwagon with glee.

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    Mute Nicholas J Campbell
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    Dec 21st 2015, 4:04 PM

    She’s not a real person. She could be played by any race or any person. Didn’t see you giving it socks when daredevils kingpin was black in the movie in the mid 00′s or the fact that nick fury is now Samuel L. Get over it. Fictional characters people. They are created to be reinvented forever. It’s a pat on the back of a novelist to see diverse versions of their characters come to life. Narrow minded moaning weirdos who have a problem with that. It’s not even a PC patrol thing, it’s a freedom of creation and appropriation thing.

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    Mute Meehawwl O'Buachailla
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    Dec 21st 2015, 4:06 PM

    Okay joe, it’s a spolier alert but here ya’ go. Harry in adulthood has cast a spell on Hermione changing her skin colour to black. There, is that easier for you?

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    Mute Amanda Horan
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    Dec 21st 2015, 6:11 PM

    Yes Joe and the play is based on the books, not the film.

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    Mute willr
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    Dec 21st 2015, 3:31 PM

    The guy playing Ron Weasley got Brown hair… Where are the Ginger defenders?

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    Mute Tricia Golden
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    Dec 21st 2015, 4:16 PM

    Guy playing Ron (Paul Thornley) looks like he has more grey hair to me (and I am a ginger….. a ginger who is going fecking grey!)

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    Mute Drew TheChinaman :)
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    Dec 21st 2015, 1:46 PM

    I think it’s good casting…

    But is someone not allowed be of the other opinion without needing ‘putting in their place’ by politically correct social justice touting hipsters on Twitter?

    God I really hate Twitter, and the publishing of tweets on articles/media. It just breeds more of these people who think their tweets and opinions really influence anyone….

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    Mute Imperator Isachukwu
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    Dec 21st 2015, 2:28 PM

    Amen. The Social Justice crowd take the most innocuous things and ruin them. Far more people complaining about the complainers than are complaining abput the casting. Most people dont care if the actress is black or white. SJW’s are the ones reducing it to a race issue.

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    Mute Tricia Golden
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    Dec 21st 2015, 4:22 PM

    Imperator Isachukwu – I’m impressed by your trolling BTW. Very subtly done.

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    Mute Leo Massey
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    Dec 21st 2015, 1:41 PM

    Ah JK trying to get back some PR ‘right on’ points after backing the murderous apartheid Israeli regime.

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    Mute Lurfic
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    Dec 21st 2015, 2:08 PM

    I’m pretty sure that as a highly accomplished billionaire she has f all need for your approval of her political views.

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    Mute Kal Ipers
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    Dec 21st 2015, 2:08 PM

    No need for publicity the tickets have the biggest presale of tickets in the history of the west end. I think it has 2 years pre sold already

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    Mute Leo Massey
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    Dec 21st 2015, 3:17 PM

    Nor I yours chimp

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    Mute Leo Massey
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    Dec 21st 2015, 3:20 PM

    Highly accomplished billionaires should be entitled to do anything they want. They’re above us all, and reproach, due to their billions.
    She might spit on you if you ask her nicely.

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    Mute Imperator Isachukwu
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    Dec 21st 2015, 2:30 PM

    Doesn’t say anywhere that Ron doesn’t transition to being a woman after hogwarts. Ron should be a woman now.

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    Mute Fozz
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    Dec 21st 2015, 2:38 PM

    Pretty sure Ron being a boy was mentioned several times…

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    Mute Imperator Isachukwu
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    Dec 21st 2015, 2:47 PM

    Yes but he could have transitioned after leaving hogwarts. Would be stunning, brave and important if they made Ron a trans woman.

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    Mute Rock Stoneballs
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    Dec 21st 2015, 3:55 PM

    I’m actually offended they didn’t.

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    Mute Tricia Golden
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    Dec 21st 2015, 4:19 PM

    Ron is clearly identified in the books as being a red haired male.

    Herminone is clearly identified as being a brown haired female.

    She is not identified as being white. She was merely played by a white actress in one interpretation of the books.

    19
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    Mute IrishGravyTrain
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    Dec 21st 2015, 5:48 PM

    Transgender is so 2014. Its all about Gender Fluid now. Keep up will you.

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    Mute Lorem Ipsum
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    Dec 21st 2015, 2:38 PM

    “THIS IS SO IMPORTANT”

    Yeah, I dunno why I was getting so preoccupied with all that Syria stuff

    33
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    Mute luke frankus
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    Dec 21st 2015, 2:00 PM

    Great aul trick this one! When a film or programme is dying out just switch one of the characters to be black and everybody will take notice…

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    Mute Anthony Byrne
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    Dec 21st 2015, 3:28 PM

    A complete and absolute non-article

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    Mute Paddy Kavanagh
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    Dec 21st 2015, 1:41 PM

    sounds like an ali g moment.

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    Mute David Harkin
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    Dec 21st 2015, 1:35 PM

    More to the point, when will the film version be released???

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    Mute ThatGuy
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    Dec 21st 2015, 3:49 PM

    The film version of a play, based on a movie that’s based on a book. :-D

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    Mute Meehawwl O'Buachailla
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    Dec 21st 2015, 4:08 PM

    I’m looking forward to the outtakes reel after that then.

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    Mute Paul Darby
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    Dec 21st 2015, 1:41 PM

    Aren’t the all a bit old to be playing any of these parts.

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    Mute Daniel Mccullagh
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    Dec 21st 2015, 2:38 PM

    You obviously haven’t read the article. It takes place after the books

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    Mute Carol Oates
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    Dec 21st 2015, 4:35 PM

    I have zero issue with the casting. I think she’ll be wonderful. As others have said the character’s skin color isn’t specified and it doesn’t take away from the fact Emma Watson did a great job with the role. What I don’t like is some gleeful articles I’ve read today about how all is right now and taking a dig at Emma Watson because she’s white. Racism goes both ways. On the other hand, I can’t be good with a person of color James Bond, because unlike Hermione, the character of Bond could not be a poc based on decriptions.

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    Mute bandido
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    Dec 21st 2015, 6:22 PM

    When will the outrage commence for the other two characters being white?

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    Mute danny fitz
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    Dec 22nd 2015, 10:00 PM

    Only news here is JK Rowling now referring to herself in the third person.

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    Mute Bobby wilson
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    Dec 21st 2015, 10:52 PM

    What difference doest make about the colour of someone skin, as long they can act well……

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    Mute Anonymous Man
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    Dec 21st 2015, 10:22 PM

    Orange is the new Black…

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