Extend antigen testing to all frontline workers – Ward

Antigen tests should be made available to all frontline workers, a Fine Gael Senator has said.

This follows a decision by Houses of the Oireachtas, as an employer, to make antigen tests available, free of charge, to staff who work on site in Leinster House.

Senator Barry Ward said, “This morning, we heard reports that antigen tests would be made available to all TDs, Senators and their staff. The Houses of the Oireachtas has since correctly clarified that this will not be the case, and all Government parties including my own have insisted on covering the costs of any tests that would be handed out to Oireachtas members.

“I welcome this clarification, as it would be entirely unacceptable that I, as a member of the Seanad, should receive antigen tests free of charge while the wider public continue to pay for them.

“This has initiated a necessary conversation around the use of antigen testing. In order to keep people safe and businesses open, I believe the most sensible option would be to extend free antigen testing to all frontline workers, starting with nurses and other hospital staff.

“I also welcome the announcement by the Government to progress their use in schools.

“At this point, we know personal responsibility is a significant part of limiting close contacts and the spread of the virus, and antigen tests have a role to play in that regard. If you develop symptoms or are named as a close contact, self-testing and self-isolation in the event of a negative test would help protect those around you, particularly if you are asymptomatic.

“The State has obviously spent large sums of money on PCR testing, charging €200 per test. Rapid antigen tests – while less accurate – certainly have a role to play and would be significantly cheaper to provide to all frontline workers.

“We need to launch a campaign to show people how to conduct a self-test, and then actually trust the public to use antigen tests properly”, concluded Senator Ward.