Demand for community Covid-19 tests soars by 210%

Demand for community Covid-19 swab tests has soared by 210% in the last few weeks, it has emerged. HSE boss Paul Reid said a “complex set of demands” have emerged for workplace settings, close contacts and people whose first language is not English. He told the HSE briefing that demand for testing doubled in one week. “That is putting a different challenge on us in terms of the increased volume but also increased complexity,” Mr Reid added.