‘Idiotic Messaging’

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31 thoughts on “‘Idiotic Messaging’”

  2. goldenbrown

    Q. “What is Fianna Fáil?”

    A. a parody of the political genre?

    so succinct, a beautifully crafted question that

    1. Sadhbh

      It’s the same policy as we have in the UK. Antigen if you don’t have symptoms, PCR if you do (or have been a close contact of someone with Covid). There’s a warning on the government website saying not to take an antigen if you have symptoms, book/order a PCR.

      I presume the government concern is that people will over rely on the antigen result if they do have symptoms. It’s very accurate at detecting a negative case. It’s only about 70% accurate at detecting a positive case if a person has symptoms, less than 60% accurate if asymptomatic. This means someone is very unlikely to get a false positive but there’s a bigger chance of getting a false negative. Some of the covid symptoms, particularly of the delta variant are very similar to the common cold and people could easily assume it’s just a cold given the time of year. If someone has symptoms they should try get a PCR asap, not rely on a second antigen as an alternative.

      2. SOQ

        How can it be very accurate at detecting a negative case but less so at detecting a positive case?

        Antigen do not look for the same as PCR. Antigen are way more accurate at telling you if you are infectious, which is the primary reason for testing in the first place.

        1. Cian

          It depends on the threshold for calling something positive or negative.
          Antigen tests are measuring specific viral proteins. If there are a certain number of these is will show positive. But they need to decide ‘how many’ of these constitutes a positive test.

          They can set the threshold low – this will catch lots of positives (but some are false-positives); this is unlikely to give a false-negative.

          Or they can set the threshold high – this will catch fewer positives (so unlikely to give a false-positives); this way, however, *is* likely to give a false-negatives.

          1. SOQ

            Was the Irish government involved in the tests Lidl were selling?

            Why should there be a variance between countries anyways?

    2. Mr.T

      Antigen tests are good when symptomatic, worse when not.
      But the testing advice from on high is the opposite of this!

  5. Free Lunch

    If you’re asymptomatic then why would you be prompted to have an antigen test?

    What are the symptoms of being asymptomatic?

        1. Janet, dreams of an alternate universe

          well just because your friend is paranoid doesn’t mean they aren’t after them

  6. Pat

    So this is quite a stupid post about a stupid tweet isnt it? There’s nothing idiotic about the gov messaging at all.

    I suppose this Michael Mina character is looking to be the next Marcus deBrun?

    Good luck to him

    2. alickdouglas

      Mina has a good reputation, he’s academically very well trained in topics relevant to the COVID pandemic at top US Universities (Dartmouth/Emory/Harvard). He’d be a classic ‘global health’ profile with experience in a broad range of fields, he isn’t stuck in a silo looking at PCR tests all day for example. I don’t follow everything he says, but most of what I see that he comments on is sensible and focussed on practical strategies to tackle the issues raised by the pandemic.

      1. SOQ

        Why do you think they are clinging to PCR alick?

        When I say clinging I mean like a cat sliding down a window- it is going to happen sooner or later.

        1. alickdouglas

          Well, in theory it is a good idea to stick to one detection/quantification method, so you can compare time periods and geographies. In reality that’s not possible–particularly for Ireland–I’m not convinced the PCR testing protocols are well-validated and well-run. If all PCR tests were run and validated in a logical manner–simplistically for example using the same number of cycles each time–one could have a degree of confidence in comparing case rates between regions and through time. PCR also has some other theoretical advantages over antigen testing, such as you can use it to quantify viral burden, and to identify the pathogen at the level of the genetic sequence (i.e. the variant).

          In reality however, in Ireland they aren’t doing any of those things, I think it’s just saving face and a fetish about jolly well showing people who is the boss.

  8. Ray

    Mina says if you have symptoms and test positive on antigen that you have Covid.

    Those supporting the FF message want someone with Covid to then travel to an indoor setting, to stand in a couple of Qs with others most of whom will be negative, to give their details to an administrator, to make someone take a sample from their nose and then travel home again.

    1. Micko

      Gotta get that recover cert somehow eh?

      6 Months of freedom…

      Also, people just HAVE to know.

      Does seem pretty dumb to have everyone indoors though, surely drive through testing for those who can would make more sense.

  9. Micko

    True, it’s 15.4%

    A good question is why to Glynn and Houlahan and the HSE in general have direct access to the media and the public.

    Surely all these announcements should be through the elected government. This only causes division in the public as we’re allowed to be on team NPHET, team ‘let it rip’ team ‘zero covid’ and team Government.

    Great craic altogether though…

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