Advertisement

News

'Many More COVID Infections' Are Out There - Eoghan De Barra

A record 16,428 new cases were confirmed here yesterday
Jack Quann
Jack Quann

11:17 AM - 30 Dec 2021



'Many More COVID Infections' A...

News

'Many More COVID Infections' Are Out There - Eoghan De Barra

Jack Quann
Jack Quann

11:17 AM - 30 Dec 2021



A consultant in infectious diseases has said there are many more positive COVID-19 cases in the community than figures suggest.

Dr Eoghan De Barra was speaking after a record 16,428 new cases were confirmed here yesterday.

There has also been a rise in new admissions to hospital of COVID patients, at levels not seen since January.

Dr De Barra is a consultant in infectious diseases at Beaumont Hospital and a senior lecturer at the Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland.

He says the true scale of infections isn't known.

"The testing system is completely full at the moment, I think we all know many people who've been up till midnight trying to get PCR slots.

"The system can't cope, and we don't have an idea of demand - at least the HSE doesn't release [to] us how many clicks they're actually getting to try to get slots.

"The 50% positivity rate is a vast over-estimate probably because of the number of people who are doing a follow-up on a lateral flow - an antigen test that was positive.

"So there are probably many, many more infections out there that either can't get a test, are not going to bother getting a follow on test, or indeed have such minimal symptoms that they're not going to get [a test]."

Dr De Barra says it's likely people have the virus, but are unaware.

"We know on - I think - the 16th of December in London, one in 20 people in London was positive... so there are many more positive cases.

"So I think I'd echo Tony Holohan's comment that the likelihood is, if you're going to meet up with some people today some of them are positive - likely unbeknownst to themselves."



Read more about

COVID Infections Covid-19 Cases Eoghan De Barra

You might like