Why is there no PCR tests available?

Difficult to disagree with that analysis - it's a real $hit show

Well many won't because of of the shutdown of the hospitality sector. But it looks like everything else (schools etc) will open as planned. After all if 99.99% of people being tested are negative then there will be no need for the government to take action. The fact that the waiting list for PCR is longer than the recovery period will be missed by the government. Deliberately or not will be debatable.

Anyone close to the border book a test with the NHS across the border in the North. They have hundreds of appointments and we were in and out in 5 minutes. Went to the test centre at Rathfriland. Easy to get to for anyone in County Louth anyway.

Coming straight in here. Our daughter had two positive antigen tests. I went on to the HSE site to report her and you’re led to the PCR appointment link. With no appointments available you can’t report her as being positive. Am I doing it wrong? 🤔

I think the reporting system only kicks in on Monday.

https://covid19.shanehastings.eu/pcrtesting/ shows 65K+ available test slots, either we have peaked or the new registration regime is stopping people bothering to get tested....reminds me of the three monkeys covering eyes, ears and mouth.

Know people who have had positive antigen, no PCR bookings did the isolation time notified contacts.

I am currently a close contact person I know tested positive antigen didn't even bother trying PCR at this stage we all know the drill. They in hospitality so closed up while isolating ECT.

Guess when school/creche back will need PcR availability or perhaps an antigen ok for them I'm not sure.

PCR testing or IT systems seem to be a mess at the moment. Not sure if its down to the volume of people looking for tests or the booking system being brutal.

My husband is positive - this was confirmed by PCR last week. The rest of us in the house got our close contact messages and to register for a PCR test. When we go to enter our information into the linked website we never get to complete the 8 pages as website glitches and goes back to start. Ive given up at this stage. I rang the HSE helpline and was given completely different advice regarding isolation and testing than is on the HSE website. I have my booster and I now have 3 antigens clear ( all 2 days apart) so Im ok. Kids are not vaccinated so Im just going to keep them isolating for another week ( full 14 days )and do antigens instead of getting PCRs. All are clear so far but they wont be able to go back to school on Thursday ( if schools are open). Being honest Im probably happier that they are not going to testing centres ( when showing no symptoms and negative antigens) as I think testing centres could be contributing to the spread - testing people with no symptoms and negative antigens is crazy is blocking up test slots for people who actually do need a PCR.

Also it is very hard to understand the advice from the HSE re close contacts - the advice is contradicted in several sections so very hard to know exactly how long you should be isolating for. The advice changes again from tomorrow - it does sound like their making it up to suit the situation ie. high numbers of positives oh sure we'll cut the isolation period. Anyway positives are is that for most people it is a very mild virus - vaccines do seem to be working.

I have 2 positive antigen test results and like many cannot find free PCR slot, on that basis would GP give me sick note for work through online appointment?

...can definitely see this plan succeeding!

Got a test done this evening out in the RocDoc in Swords who are also testing on HSE behalf. Was waiting 2 and half hours ! Absolute shambles, many people had left the que or turned around in their cars. I'd of honestly booked private if I'd of known this.

From my experience of trying to get an appointment the last couple of days it seems the only two places where bookings were possible in Dublin were this one and the Carton Hotel down the road. I'm assuming now that all the other sites are being used as GP referrals or running at a very reduced capacity. Either way many people on here and social media have mentioned about how quite some of the test centres have been.

Drove by the Finglas test centre on the way out and only a handful of cars in the car park, was closed when I was on the way home.

I'd be definitely of the opinion that numbers are probably a lot higher then being reported.