Why is there no PCR tests available?

500 odd spots left in dublin as of 00.08 / 12.08

All gone at 00.12 / 12.12

longest i have seen the 12am batch hang around for so long, in a while..

Went on at 12 on the dot the last 4 nights since a positive antigen test.

Each time every slot gone before the clock had even changed to 12:01.

Yes, i have an alert set up through telegram and it does show that more come up at 12.30 but it was less than 10 and they were gone straight away too.

I have a positive antigen test and my symptoms are basically the exact same as how I felt from the side effects from the first jab. I definitely have covid but to be able to apply for the illness benefit I have to stay up all night to try and play fast fingers lotto to win the chance to walk my sick self through the cold to a test centre? So ridiculous.

Our sector was considered 'essential' so we have been able to stay open (and making record profits) yet we have no sick pay, that's correct. I've been told we are technically considered healthcare workers but it is in a weird grey area of health and retail tbh

Now, my boss is as sound as they come. I was out for like 3 days with symptoms before which turned out not to be covid, he didn't dock me for those days even though under company policy he was meant to, but if I'm out for 7-10 days I dont know if I can expect him to do that again, probably not.

I don't understand the last paragraph there, what do you mean?

It is definitely frontline as I am in close contact with the public all day in a small shop, and the products we sell are essential medical devices basically. We were kept open when other shops like clothes shops were closed, we cannot work from home.

Just a few points to help your chances of getting an appointment...

I have only booked Dublin, but I presume it applies to all counties.

Appointments get released at

- 12.00, 12.30, 01.00, all am... ( Open to correction here, but that's when I have seen them )

Use a laptop or PC, with a mouse.. ( an up to date and fast one )

The same applies if you are using your phone, but laptop is best...

- Open the hse.ie page well before ( at lest 30 minutes ) 12.00am, and go through the steps and get to step 7 of 13.....

Refresh every 2 minutes or so, then at 11.57 I would be refreshing constantly...

How to refresh --- when on step 7 of 13, click privacy statement ( bottom left of page ) then press back ( top left of page ) and you are back at step 7 of 13 refreshed...

If you get to click on an test center, were appointments are available, it give you two dates , click on the right side date, then pick a time, if thats not available pick another and so on...

If you get a time it will ask you for your mobile number and it will send you a code by text message... ( Some people are using the email option to get a code ) it has always worked with text massage for me ...

Keep at it till 01.00 am when the last batch is released or until you get sorted...

I'll second that. My daughter was a close contact in work before Christmas, HSE didn't contact her. Her Job notified her and told her she couldn't return until January 4th, but she contact our GP who wasn't back until Tuesday 5th even tough her 10 days were up and she's back to work the 4th, he filled in the form and they back dated the payment to cover her 10 days (she received payment today)

was told 48 hrs this morning

Sounds like an incorrect PCR tbh...

I got mine in 24 hours too. Also feeling sick, worst symptom at the moment is a swollen throat. But a negative result. I don't know if I should just go on like it was a cold or what now.

Legend! Thank you.

Yes. Got one today.

it was down to junior and his gaming skills that organaised 2 for hiimself and my wife.

The telegram bot does not work anymore... The HSE put a captcha at the start, that stopped the bot...

We all got tested Wednesday after I stayed up Monday and Tues to get us appointments. I had rang caredoc around 1am on Sunday morning to get my husband referred. He finally got an appointment this morning, for this afternoon based on the referral so it took 5 and a half days to get that appointment. We had our results yesterday.