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Ireland reached a milestone in the pandemic response today completing 1 million Covid19 tests.
An ungodly amount of work went into it all over 6 months, so I'll shine a spotlight on as many of those people as possible here.
And thank you.
An ungodly amount of work went into it all over 6 months, so I'll shine a spotlight on as many of those people as possible here.
And thank you.
Irish institutions stepped up immediately.
GAA opened their doors up and down the country, from Páirc Uí Chaoimh to Mick Neville Park.
Croke Park was the first drive-through testing center opened in Europe on March 17th.
The GAA made the logistics of testing a lot smoother.
GAA opened their doors up and down the country, from Páirc Uí Chaoimh to Mick Neville Park.
Croke Park was the first drive-through testing center opened in Europe on March 17th.
The GAA made the logistics of testing a lot smoother.
Irish Universities and higher education jumped straight into action.
UCC, UL, NUIG, Athlone, Sligo, Letterkenny and Cork IT UL, facilitated reagents during the global reagent shortage.
Thanks to their effort, thousands of tests were completed. https://twitter.com/Care2much18/status/1250120111672999939?s=20
UCC, UL, NUIG, Athlone, Sligo, Letterkenny and Cork IT UL, facilitated reagents during the global reagent shortage.
Thanks to their effort, thousands of tests were completed. https://twitter.com/Care2much18/status/1250120111672999939?s=20
One example of such effort was Dr. Jeremy Bird, Sligo IT.
When Sligo University Hospital called to see if he could help, answer was basically 'not much'.
Rather than give up, he drove around Ireland scouring college storerooms and the answer became yes. https://www.rte.ie/news/2020/0403/1128390-sligo-university-reagents/
When Sligo University Hospital called to see if he could help, answer was basically 'not much'.
Rather than give up, he drove around Ireland scouring college storerooms and the answer became yes. https://www.rte.ie/news/2020/0403/1128390-sligo-university-reagents/
The Defence Forces underpinned the Irish Covid testing effort in unsung ways.
They had a hand in anything you can think of with 50,000 taskings.
They transported tests to Germany, distributed testing kits from China to hospital labs, couriered swabs around Ireland.
They had a hand in anything you can think of with 50,000 taskings.
They transported tests to Germany, distributed testing kits from China to hospital labs, couriered swabs around Ireland.
This was overseen by Brigadier General Brian Cleary, leading the Joint Task Force.
The crew of the LE WB Yeats helped in Galway, the crew of the LE Samuel Beckett in Dublin, the crew of the LE Eithne supported the Cork testing drive.
A massive help in the logistical effort.
The crew of the LE WB Yeats helped in Galway, the crew of the LE Samuel Beckett in Dublin, the crew of the LE Eithne supported the Cork testing drive.
A massive help in the logistical effort.
The National Ambulance Service played a crucial role in the pandemic testing response, both in terms of swabbing, transporting to the NVRL and transporting positive patients.
Advanced paramedics worked tirelessly on this. https://www.irishexaminer.com/lifestyle/arid-30987404.html
Advanced paramedics worked tirelessly on this. https://www.irishexaminer.com/lifestyle/arid-30987404.html
German labs facilitated thousands of Irish test results during the reagent shortage.
They came to the assistance of a dozen EU countries directly and indirectly during that crunch period and their efforts are appreciated, so thank you to Germany.
They came to the assistance of a dozen EU countries directly and indirectly during that crunch period and their efforts are appreciated, so thank you to Germany.
When you get past the logistical effort, you get to the labs.
365,141 tests were completed in Irish hospitals.
This is a venue where lives are in the balance, speed is important and the Medical Scientists do amazing work under pressure.
365,141 tests were completed in Irish hospitals.
This is a venue where lives are in the balance, speed is important and the Medical Scientists do amazing work under pressure.
636,506 tests were completed in Irish labs such as the NVRL in UCD.
This was a massive undertaking for a brand new disease, with a brand new test.
Once more Medical Scientists did heroic work under pressure in registering, processing, analysing samples.
This was a massive undertaking for a brand new disease, with a brand new test.
Once more Medical Scientists did heroic work under pressure in registering, processing, analysing samples.
Perfection is the enemy of good when it comes to emergency responses" - Mike Ryan, WHO.
None of it has been perfect.
There was reagent shortages, false positives, 100 people given wrong results, slow turnaround times of up to 2 weeks during the peak.
None of it has been perfect.
There was reagent shortages, false positives, 100 people given wrong results, slow turnaround times of up to 2 weeks during the peak.
Mostly every country has had these problems, too. It is never about perfect, it's about getting it done.
Ireland is the smallest country in Europe to reach 1 million tests.
We are the 2nd smallest country in the World to reach it, after Bahrain.
Ireland is the smallest country in Europe to reach 1 million tests.
We are the 2nd smallest country in the World to reach it, after Bahrain.
I don't know how many tens of thousands of cumulative hours went into all of it.
I do know a lot of thoroughly decent human beings put those hours in.
Their efforts often get overlooked in favour of negative stories when things go wrong, as they do in all countries.
I do know a lot of thoroughly decent human beings put those hours in.
Their efforts often get overlooked in favour of negative stories when things go wrong, as they do in all countries.
Speaking of overlooked, cleaners, refuse collectors, bus drivers, taxi drivers, couriers all played roles.
The last people we tend to think of in logistics are the people with a mop and bucket or taking out the bins, but none of this works smoothly without them.
The last people we tend to think of in logistics are the people with a mop and bucket or taking out the bins, but none of this works smoothly without them.
From Medical Scientists to ambulance crews and everywhere in between, they deserve recognition for their relentless commitment.
More than that it was a testament to solidarity.
It should go down as one of the finest collaborative efforts in the history of the state.
More than that it was a testament to solidarity.
It should go down as one of the finest collaborative efforts in the history of the state.
