Hopefully these numbers see an end to all the spurious testing narratives.

Most tested countries in the world, per million:

(Populations over 2 million)

1. UAE
2. Norway
3. Switzerland
4. Ireland
5. Portugal
6. Italy
7. Slovenia
8. Austria
9. Germany
10. Lithuania https://twitter.com/newschambers/status/1250104082687242240

I'm aware there's going to be someone telling me 4th in the world is not good enough, and too many delays.

Aside from reagent shortages, maybe consider the possibility we have delays because we're testing so much?

Easier to avoid delays if you don't test.

The role of Irish universities during the global reagent shortage has mostly gone under the radar.

The collaboration between Cork IT and UCC delivered enough reagent for 10,000 tests. Sligo IT and UL facilitated 3,000 tests, NUIG, Athlone and Galway IT's another 1,500.

What this meant in practice is when your very sick relative or friend was taken to Cork University Hospital, or Sligo University Hospital or University Hospital Limerick with breathing problems, they could be promptly tested and treated, despite the global reagent situation.

That's massive collaboration between Irish scientists, hospitals, GAA and government, battling a logistical nightmare and a global shortage.

We've no right to be the 4th most tested nation but we are through rolling our sleeves up, hard work, initiative and determination.

Some of the people involved:

Dr. Edel Durack, UL
Dr. Jeremy Bird and Una Parsons, Sligo IT
Dr. Brigid Lucey, Cork IT
Virologists Dr. Martina Scallan and Dr. John McSharry, UCC
Microbiologists Catherine Dempsey and Isabelle O' Callaghan, Cork
CÚRAM team, NUIG

Thank you.