This afternoon.
Government Buildings. Dublin 2.
Minister for Finance Paschal Donohoe attempts to explain the government’s position on antigen testing.
Earlier…
This afternoon.
Health Minister Stephen Donnelly is expected to secure Government approval to subsidise antigen testing…
…..Social Democrats Spokesperson for Children Jennifer Whitmore says:
“Discussions currently are focused on trying to design a subsidy scheme, which is entirely misguided. The building is on fire. We need to act now to put it out – not stand around and debate the cost of fire extinguishers.
“We are in an emergency situation and the most important thing we need to do is identify cases and suppress transmission. Free antigen testing would help us to do that. Given the huge surge in cases, it would be destructive to our efforts to manage this crisis if cost were to become a barrier to antigen testing.
“The government, and Nphet, have been dismissive of the public’s ability to correctly use antigen tests, but people are not stupid. They have followed all of the public health advice to the best of their ability for nearly two years.
“When this surge has abated, we can then discuss a subsidy. But the situation is too grave now for any further indecision or delay.”
Meanwhile…
Via Fintan O’Toole in the Irish Times:
…There was an extraordinary moment last June at a hearing on antigen tests held by the Oireachtas transport committee. One of the experts, Prof Mary Keogan, consultant immunologist and national clinical lead for pathology, held up two antigen tests, one negative and one positive. She announced that she had created the negative result by putting butter on the test. She produced the positive result with tonic water.
Worse than uselessThe implication was clear – self-administered tests are worse than useless because people can cheat. This was very much in line with the description by Nphet’s chief modeller Prof Philip Nolan of a test being sold in a supermarket chain as “snake oil”.
What was not produced, however, was any evidence that lots of Irish people are in fact cheating on antigen tests. Perhaps to a certain kind of scientific mind it seems obvious that if people can do something they must be doing it.
That suspicion seems unshakeable. Even after the Government decided on Monday last week to move ahead with a wider use of antigen testing, its chief medical adviser Dr Tony Holohan continued to lobby against the policy….
Messaging on the pandemic has become just a mess (Fintan O’Toole, Irish Times)
If you are going to cheat the test, why not simply not take it in the first place!
These tests are not allowed as proof of entry to anywhere, so why is it an issue if they can be faked – people would only be cheating themselves.
As for potentially using the tests for entry to premises, you could let pharmacists country wide administer them and then record the results on some database if you want it linked to the QR codes etc and only valid for X amount of time.
But no, the irish government isnt interested in solutions, only playing the blame game, and trying to funnel money to their mates.
“But no, the irish government isnt interested in solutions, only playing the blame game, and trying to funnel money to their mates.”
Which is all they ever do, no matter what the issue is…worse than useless, they’re an impediment.
Adulthood is realising that the Irish state is nothing more than a vessel to funnel money into Denis O Brien & Larry Goodman’s pockets
This.
Antigen tests should have been rolled out before now. These can let conscientious people test themselves and make informed decisions about mixing with people (or getting a PCR test)
I have two family members this week present with symptoms – a husband and wife.
Both took Antigen tests. One positive and one negative. They both then went for PCR’s and the PCR confirmed exactly what the antigen test said. One positive and one negative.
The Gov are funnelling dosh all over the place. I know of two large business that use Eamonn Ryan’s brothers company Medmark for regular weekly testing. One is a film production company that is testing EVERYONE on set twice weekly.
A bloody fortune they are making..
Antigen Test Cheats Cheat Us All.
But yeah, they’re pretty much garbage anyway in terms of reliability. PCR tests also returning false or differing results, we’re adrift on the ocean waiting for a redemptive breeze or a cataclysmic storm.
The only reason they refused to use antigen testing from the beginning and their(NPHET) reluctance to use them even now is that people would be less likely to take a PCR test.
Less PCR testing, less cases; and they couldn’t stand for that.
Yes Ben, it takes the control of the narrative out of their and the medias hands.
It has always been about controlling the narrative not the spread of the virus.
Using behavioural science (psych) to propagate and manipulate it to their ends.
This is worth a read, things are really going to ramp up. https://mronline.org/2021/10/13/behind-natos-cognitive-warfare-battle-for-your-brain-waged-by-western-militaries/
Reads like science fiction, but it’s real.
The world needs a ‘Switch off all devices Day’.
Jesus, cognitive warfare directed against civilian populations including their own. Its kind of shocking that they are actually carrying it out.
https://ottawacitizen.com/news/national/defence-watch/military-leaders-saw-pandemic-as-unique-opportunity-to-test-propaganda-techniques-on-canadians-forces-report-says
The unvaccinated are not a danger to the public.
They are a danger to the narrative.
i had two in the past week.
You said you can’t get a PCR test anywhere fore the last 2 weeks.
You are wrong.
scottser had two.
two more in my immediate household.
yep, at short notice too. the rest of the house also had tests within 24 hours of booking, so that’s another 5 no problem booking tests.
Hold on there Social Democrats Spokesperson for Children Jennifer Whitmore!
“The building is on fire. We need to act now to put it out – not stand around and debate the cost of fire extinguishers.”
That is really just the type of stupid rhetoric that is (if I may) pouring fuel onto the flames of an already ‘overheated’ conflagration of white hot poo poo.
And dare I say that Fintan O’Toole is 100% spot on. The messaging on the pandemic has become a poo poo show.
I’ve said it for some time now. Why has the messaging not changed in the 20 years we have now endured the deadly pandemic??
We are all bloody vaccinated. Take off your mask Mister Gorbachev and go have sex with your neighbour for Christ’s sake.
Just looked on the HSE website for testing dates and times in my local centre (Sligo). 88 appointments available for tomorrow, so not sure where you’re getting that information from. Some areas are busier than others, I suppose, but your comment is a bit off the mark.
I just examined it in a bit more detail, and it’s interesting. Pretty much the only appointments available are in border counties or West of the Shannon for today or tomorrow. Only in Donegal (840), Mayo (417), Roscommon (206), Sligo (88), Monaghan (67), Cavan (56), Galway (51), Clare (49), Leitrim (32) and Longford (22).
I should say border counties except Louth. None there either.
Yeah, I also tested positive. You must be delighted.
Bottomhole.
How you feeling now out of interest?
same as your self I expect V- with your hands.
Group on use of antigen testing to be set up – Article dated 1ST JULY!
https://www.rte.ie/news/coronavirus/2021/0701/1232452-coronavirus-antigen-tests-ireland/
What’s taking so long?
Meanwhile…
We did 209,583 PCR tests is the last 7 days alone
209 THOUSAND!
Lodsa money….