Record number of Covid tests in July

Simonstown vaccination centre saw a total of 675 ‘walk-ins’ on Bank Holiday Monday according to the HSE.

Walk-in clinics were held at Simonstown in Navan and Fairyhouse Racecourse in Ratoath over the Bank Holiday weekend. The clinics were open to anyone in Ireland over the age of 16, who had not already been vaccinated.

The month of July was the busiest month on record for HSE Covid Test Centres locally with a record number of swabs taken from 1st to 28th July.

By last Thursday, 40,000 swabs had been taken in the month of July. From Monday 19th to 25th, 2,306 swabs were taken in Ashbourne, 2,273 in Ardee and 1,555 in Mullingar.

Dr Niamh Clarke, Primary Care and Head of Testing in Midlands Louth Meath highlighted the hard work and dedication of the testing teams.

“Each and every member of staff worked collectively and collaboratively to meet the massive testing demand that emerged in July.

“The weather conditions in July were particularly arduous to work in but the testing teams worked tirelessly and committedly to ensure that all members of the public in Counties Longford, Westmeath, Laois, Offaly Louth and Meath were offered a testing appointment with 24 hours of referral.”

Mr Des O’Flynn Chief Officer, HSE Midlands Louth Meath described the number of tests carried out by the staff in the centres as an “outstanding achievement” in the fight to keep families safe in Covid pandemic times.

Dr Una Fallon, Director of Public Health Midlands stressing the importance of people attending for testing if showing any symptoms also paid tribute to the work of the staff in testing centres who ensured through their organisation and hard work that testing was available when needed.