At the #COVID19 Committee this morning.

@RBoydBarrett raising objection to 'quite extraordinary' absence of the CMO and NPHET to appear before the Committee - "it's unacceptable", he says.

@VirginMediaNews

"Getting information from NPHET is like pulling teeth," says Boyd Barrett.

@RoisinShortall raising same point - "I'm really quite taken aback" by the absence of Dr Ronan Glynn and NPHET members.

#COVID19

"Highly unacceptable," says Shortall, who wants to know what explanation NPHET and the Department of Health gave for their absence.

. @davidcullinane also joining the chorus.

"There is an appreciation from the Committee that NPHET is very busy... but the point has been made that almost all of the decisions that have an impact in people's lives are made on the advice of NPHET."

"There isn't even any briefings for Opposition health spokespersons or party leaders on any of these issues," says @davidcullinane.

He says there is a "consensus" in politics that saving lives comes first but that these matters should be subject to scrutiny. "Dangerous" not to.

And another. @Fergusodowd - "they must come in here."

"If they can appear before the media - and they do every day [not true - twice a week]..." they can appear before us, he says.

More members making the same point on NPHET's non-attendance.

Anyway, the HSE chief @paulreiddublin is before the Committee this morning.

Like Ronan Glynn last night, he'll tell members "we will be dealing with COVID-19 for a long time yet."

Reid: We are amongst the highest ranked in Europe on testing per 1 million of population, having done more testing than Germany, France, Norway, Italy etc.

He says we have capacity of over 100,000 per week. With additional 2,000 surge capacity from Germany.

HSE's Paul Reid says they're looking at "robots" and additional equipment to speed up testing turnaround and boost capacity.

SF's David Cullinane asking first questions on staff numbers.

Reid: 32 swabbing centres, 380 staff on swabbing.

46 labs doing #COVID19 tests.

Recruitment.

700 people being sought for swabbing.

500 people being sought for contact tracing.

On turnaround times:

2.9 days median turnaround for swab referral to positive result.

3.5 days when you include contact tracing.

Schools

@CarrollJennifer making point that testing/tracing hasn't been good enough in her area. Raising case of one teacher in her constituency waiting five days in September.

Reid: 90% of school test results are back within 24 hours and communicated to schools.

In first week schools went back: 17% of total testing for the week was on young children. The next week it went up to 36%.

1.4% positivity rate in the first week. At 1.9% now.

Reid: Total cases of around 180 children.

11 outbreaks.

4,328 children and teachers tested.

. @OCallaghanJim asks about 5 deaths reported last week. Were they historic?

Dr John Cuddihy responds: In Sept to date there have been 27 deaths. All of these took place this month. 20 of these deaths in the East of the country. 20 had underlying conditions.

#COVID19

Median age of the deceased for the month of September.

"We are providing the median age on the HPSC website.

Of the deaths in September, Median age 79. Mean age 73.

Reid asked about impact of restrictions on young people.

"Quite concerning" issues emerging from people with stress, anxiety and mental health issues across all age groups. "That is a cause of concern."

#COVID19

O'Callaghan asks about the Impact of focus on #covid19 at expense of other health issues?

Dr Colm Henry: Of course we're concerned... mentions later presentation with other diseases... Also aware of impact on child health re screening and immunisation.

Henry says the priority is to reopen services which aren't related to Covid.

He says the experience internationally is that there has been later presentation with cancers etc.

Mike McNamara asks if someone with symptomless Covid has a heart attack, or falls off the roof of the building and dies, are they recorded as a Covid death or not?

Cuddihy: They're recorded as death in Covid patient but those type of deaths are validated/de-notified later.

Hospitals

"While we are dealing with fewer Covid patients now than at the peak..." we're trying to deal with patients with other issues.

He says there have been incidents where wards have been badly impacted.

Small number of cases can have a significant impact.

Continuing surge in hospitals would be evidence of "mass community transmission," says Reid.

"It's not a place we want to get to."

On Maternity hospital visits for partners.

@paulreiddublin says "it is a heartbreaking time..." It's done on hospital by hospital basis.

"We are seeing an increasing trend of Healthcare Workers becoming infected or having to isolate. That's what we need to protect against".

@RoisinShortall's questions focus on test & trace.

On tracing, Reid says there's confusion on this. He says public health teams look back beyond contacts. They do build knowledge beyond the 48 hours of contact tracing.

Shortall asking whether those experiences of public health doctors can be made public.

Colm Henry says the experience across the board in Irish investigations are that infections are in 'crowded indoor settings'.

Cuddihy says more data can be made available from the HPSC on settings where infections took place.

We are going to proceed, he says, 'on enhanced' surveillance looking back 14 days on community transmission cases.

#COVID19

Mike McNamara asks will there be "loaded" questions for these enhanced surveillance, asking will it be full of stuff like "were you in a bar?" rather than "where have you been?"

The absolute pain of Skype-based committees. Cross-talk, delays and glitching.

RBB asks what would the impact be of 800 cases per day on testing and tracing capacity. If we're currently 'meeting demand' at near our testing capacity, won't it mean that if the case numbers continue to rise - we won't meet demand?

Reid responds they're looking to boost capacity. "Testing and tracing we will build up... it's not a coat of armour for society..."

RBB jumps in: "Paul, Paul, Paul, I've very little time."

Colm Henry: if we got to 800 cases confirmed today - it would be a "lot more to worry about" in testing and tracing.

RBB: If we have 800 cases per day what would the impact be on ICU? How close are we to ICU being overrun?

Reid: Current number is 280 beds. We have funding for extra 17 beds... We're at about 41 available today - "and it is always tight."

Matt Shanahan says he's "frustrated" about testing.

He says he raised Antigen tests to NPHET ages ago and they did nothing.

"Why in the name of god," he asks, are we not using those rapid Antigen tests?

Colm Henry: We ARE evaluating antigen testing... that evaluation is imminent. We aren't closed off to new ideas. At this time, PCR remains the most accurate test.

"This is not a personal criticism. The perfect is the enemy of the good," says Shanahan.

Shanahan is very angry about the speed of implementing any of these rapid tests.

Matt Carty asks about food processing facilities. How many were tested last week?

500 tests completed last week, says Reid.

"I can't answer that, Deputy, no".

Colm Henry when asked why NPHET had to convey recommendations to Government twice in respect of Dublin.

TDs Paul McAuliffe and Louise O'Reilly asking about availability of testing centres in Dublin - making the point that it's difficult to get to the National Show Centre in Swords for many people.

"Public transport is not advised" for travelling to a test, says Reid. "There are exceptions where we have deployed National Ambulance Service staff in consultation with GPs."

Paul Reid calls on public to "radically" reduce their contacts this week.

Anne O'Connor, HSE says "we'll be paying the price" of the mental health impact of the pandemic for quite some time to come.

Mike McNamara is there: If someone is admitted with a broken leg and then test positive for #COVID19, they're included in the Covid hospital numbers?

They are indeed yeah.