Councillor calls for more community testing for Covid-19

HSE data shows that only 699 tests were carried out in the community in Mayo

Anton McNulty

A MAYO member of the HSE Regional Health Forum West believes that good luck rather than good management has led to the fall in positive Covid cases in the county.
Independent councillor Michael Kilcoyne, who is calling for increased community testing for Covid-19, made his comments after HSE data showed that just 699 people were tested in the community in Mayo up to June 12. A further 748 were tested after being admitted to Mayo University Hospital.
The data was revealed to Cllr Kilcoyne after he submitted questions at the last HSE Regional Health Forum West meeting, held via video link on June 23.
The councillor said he is surprised by the low figure. “There was a fortune of money spent setting up testing facilities in the Sportlann [in Castlebar] and at the swimming pool [in Castlebar], and yet in the community there was only 699 tests. I am scratching my head and  wondering why.”
The councillor told The Mayo News that increased testing is needed to give a true picture of the case rate in the county and the country, saying that ‘more testing will give you a more accurate reading’. He added that areas could be reading as case-free, not because there are no cases but because no testing has been carried out to pick up the cases that do exist there. “If there are tests that are negative then great, but if they are positive they need to be dealt with,” he added.
Cllr Kilcoyne said he also asked for the number of tests that turned out to be negative but was informed that ‘there is no IT system capability to provide the full number of negative results for Co Mayo’.

Reassurance
The Castlebar-based councillor also called for people caring for the elderly or people with underlying conditions to be tested even if they do not show symptoms.
“My big issue is people who want a test cannot get a test. I have several people who want to have the test done, who are carers of elderly relatives or a child that has severe immune deficiency and they can’t have the test. Everyone knows there are people who are carriers who have no symptoms, and these families are looking for reassurance.
“Why is the World Health Organisation saying ‘Test, test, test’ and the people in Ireland say you don’t need testing if you have no symptoms? You should be able to apply for a test and do a test and have the results within 24 hours. The priority should be given to people caring for people with underlying health conditions,” he said.
Through his work as an undertaker, Cllr Kilcoyne said that he can see that while people are still being careful, the numbers attending funerals are getting bigger. He believes the biggest test for the country will come in the next few weeks when the country opens up to visitors from overseas. He believes visitors should be tested on arrival, and that a lack of such testing could spark an increase in Covid-19 cases in Ireland.