People in this bracket with symptoms should just isolate for “a few days”, the Tánaiste recommends.
Tánaiste Leo Varadkar has said that people under the age of 55 without underlying conditions do not need Covid-19 tests.
Speaking to reporters on Friday as he launched a new habitat in Dublin Zoo, the Tánaiste was asked about a potential cut in the isolation time for positive Covid cases amid a recent surge in cases and a rise in workplace absences as a result.
While Varadkar confirmed that a possible reduction is under review by Chief Medical Officer Dr Tony Holohan, he said he did not anticipate a significant change on account of the incubation period of the virus.
However, the Tánaiste also stated that the Government will be advising that people under 55 and without underlying conditions do not need Covid tests going forward.
Those with symptoms in this bracket are advised instead to just isolate themselves until their symptoms pass “in a few days”, at which point they can return to normal life.
That said, those with Covid symptoms who are over 55 or have an underlying condition should continue to get tested against the virus.
If their test is found to be positive, Vardkar said, they should isolate for a week.
Varadkar’s comments came as the Health Protection Surveillance Centre was notified on Friday of 5,750 PCR-confirmed cases of the virus.
In addition, on Thursday, 5,089 people registered a positive Covid antigen test through the HSE portal.
Meanwhile, as of 8am on Friday, 1,472 patients with the virus were hospitalised, of which 59 were in intensive care.
Main image via Sam Boal / RollingNews.ie
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