Put antigen tests on your list and check it twice – Higgins

Dublin Mid West Fine Gael TD Emer Higgins is encouraging the widespread use of antigen tests by anyone socialising during December and planning to spend Christmas with elderly or vulnerable relatives.

Deputy Higgins said, “We are all busy with Christmas preparations and shopping over the coming weeks, but don’t forget to add antigen tests to your list and check it twice!

“Ahead of intergenerational family mixing this Christmas and New Year period, we should all be doing our best to protect our loved ones.

“If you find yourself out and about socialising this Christmas, please take regular antigen tests ahead of visiting relatives, particularly those who might be elderly or immunocompromised.

“It’s quick and easy to take an antigen test, and thanks to market pressures they are now much more affordable than before. Using a nasal or throat swab to get a fluid sample, antigen tests can produce results in minutes by detecting certain proteins in the virus.

“While they are not for use by people with symptoms; they do provide some peace of mind if you are out and about over the coming weeks and planning to spend Christmas with elderly or vulnerable relatives.

“An antigen test may well pick up Covid when you didn’t know you had it. If you do have symptoms you must immediately isolate and book a PCR test,” Deputy Higgins concluded.