—THREAD BEGINS—

NPHET repeatedly cited test-driven case numbers.

Can ⁦ @ronan_glynn⁩ or NPHET please tell us

1. How many positive cases are active or infectious, given that PCRs detect the virus when it is no longer infectious? https://www.irishtimes.com/news/health/coronavirus-61-more-cases-as-glynn-appeals-for-public-solidarity-1.4336951

—THREAD CONTINUES—

Can @ronan_glynn or NPHET please tell us

2. how accurately test-based numbers reflect disease trends in the wider population, given that the number of detected cases depends on the volume & selection of candidates for testing?

—THREAD CONTINUES—

Can @ronan_glynn or NPHET please tell us

3. Why NPHET is relying so heavily on case numbers when they are not a true measure of disease prevalence?

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Can @ronan_glynn or NPHET please tell us

4. Why trends in hospital admissions & deaths, the only reliable indicator of the spread of disease, are not more central to NPHET’s analysis & public engagement on Covid-19?

—THREAD ENDS—

More info on limitations of PCR tests below: https://twitter.com/davidjthunder/status/1297697143470383106

This thread raises some important questions for NPHET.

May interest @danobrien20 @DavQuinn @DonnellyStephen @GabrielScally @astaines