ETB begins national antigen pilot

Staff and students are taking part, and staff in early learning and childcare facilities across the East, Northeast and West have also been invited to participate.

CMETB  is currently delivering a national antigen testing pilot for apprentices in the Cavan FET Campus for the summer months in collaboration with the HSE and the Department of Further and Higher Education.

There are nine centres in total taking part in the scheme- four Further Education and five Higher Education.

The process, its hoped, will help evaluate the use of rapid antigen diagnostic tests (RADT) in identifying COVID-19 in the further and higher education sector and the early years sector.

Staff and students are taking part, and staff in early learning and childcare facilities across the East, Northeast and West have also been invited to participate.

Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science, Simon Harris said last month following the announcement: “We have so much to learn about rapid testing, how effective the tests can be and whether they should be used on a larger scale.”

He added: “None of this work can or will replace the public health advice but it can be an additional weapon in our fight against COVID-19 and will help us with our plans for a safe and sustainable re-opening of campuses and society.”

Minister for Health, Stephen Donnelly stated that he wanted to see tests used more in society as an additional tool in our fight against COVID-19, with Niamh O Beirne, HSE National Lead for Testing and Tracing mirroring those comments.

“Over the last 15 months as Ireland has dealt with the COVID-19 pandemic, widespread PCR testing, the most effective means to detect COVID-19 was a critical part of our response and this will continue.

“We continue to develop and evolve our testing strategy which now includes GP referral; walk-in no appointment necessary testing; online self-referral; and pop-up testing for short periods of time in areas where our Public Health teams believe easier access to COVID-19 testing will help suppress the spread of infection.”