EasilyAmused
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The cabinet are set to make a decision on international travel tomorrow. Most likely they’ll adopt the EU green vax cert system.
We Irish are not like the EU USA or the UK we like to give out about our government between elections, Then after an Election, we expect the next Government to be exactly like the one that called the Election,Why is just about every other country in the EU, the USA and the UK opening up air travel using rapid antigen testing but we are not?
What does Tony & Co. know that everyone else doesn't?
I vote purely on economic grounds, knowing that the vested interest groups are more powerful than any government I pick the Party I think will do least harm.I do it myself vote for the people who I know will waste my tax money and design systems to exist to transfer as much of the hard-earned cash as possible out of my pocket to vested interest and do nothing to stop it, hoping I like most see looking after vested interest is good
Maybe because there are a fair rate of false negatives with antigen tests and they are worried about legal action like has happened with cervical smears. You can't have "absolute confidence" with antigen tests. See attached.Why is just about every other country in the EU, the USA and the UK opening up air travel using rapid antigen testing but we are not?
Who is behind this not the government,Maybe because there are a fair rate of false negatives with antigen tests and they are worried about legal action like has happened with cervical smears. You can't have "absolute confidence" with antigen tests. See attached.
Judge rules for ‘absolute confidence’ in screening programmes’ all-clear results
Court threshold could be applied in dozens of cases of alleged misreading of smear testswww.irishtimes.com
I don't know what Nphet knows or doesn't but here is an article that should explain the views of both sides of the issue.Why is just about every other country in the EU, the USA and the UK opening up air travel using rapid antigen testing but we are not?
What does Tony & Co. know that everyone else doesn't?
Joe we have imported all our cases but some people still decided to travel on holiday or for "dental appointments " but never showed up. You had your wan coming back from Dubai who went there during a lockdown.The biggest issue is guards at the airport asking you why you are travelling and handing out a fine if it is non essential, thats extraordinary by international standards. Most countries have restrictions on entering the country not on leaving it. Its like a throwback to the Soviet union , "Can I see your permission ? Where are you going ? Cuba Carry on Comrade
No Joe that is not the biggest issue, not by a long shot. There are many bigger issues, one of which are the selfish me feiners who engage in non essential travel for their own gratification and to hell with the rest of us.The biggest issue is guards at the airport asking you why you are travelling and handing out a fine if it is non essential, thats extraordinary by international standards.
I fail to see how an additional test which is 80% accurate is a bad thing. Nobody is suggesting that it replaces PCR testing.I don't know what Nphet knows or doesn't but here is an article that should explain the views of both sides of the issue.
Science | AAAS
www.sciencemag.org
It would appear that the PCR test is much more sensitive in the detection of the virus antibodies at 98% while the minimum requirement for antigen tests is 80%.
It also says that the virus enters our cells in 2 places which apparently makes accuracy an issue.
That article is from over a year ago. There has been significant change since then. NPHET seem to think that it is a case of either or when it comes to PCR and Antigen testing. They also seem to think that the majority of the country are too thick to realise that a negative Antigen test is not a green light to ignore all public health guidelines. And yet we are smart enough to realise that a negative PCR test doesn't mean we can ignore the same rules. Antigen testing will capture people with high viral loads or when they are most infectious. Yes they will miss some positive cases and everyone accepts that. A PCR test will give a positive long after someone with Covid is infectious. I could get covid, quarantine for my 14 days and still get a positive PCR test weeks later so is not perfect either when talking about reopening.I don't know what Nphet knows or doesn't but here is an article that should explain the views of both sides of the issue.
Science | AAAS
www.sciencemag.org
It would appear that the PCR test is much more sensitive in the detection of the virus antibodies at 98% while the minimum requirement for antigen tests is 80%.
It also says that the virus enters our cells in 2 places which apparently makes accuracy an issue.
But are the ones available to us at 80% ?I fail to see how an additional test which is 80% accurate is a bad thing. Nobody is suggesting that it replaces PCR testing.
The way to view it is that if the test is positive then you have the disease. If the test is negative then you may or may not have it.
So why are Canada and the USA and the UK and much of the EU using them? What does Tony know that the rest don't?But are the ones available to us at 80% ?
Frankly I don't know and reading the article only one test has gotten authorisation in the US. I really don't know if the ones being sold here are approved.