The HSE has said there has been a sharp decline in referrals for Covid-19 testing among people aged 15-24. Speaking this afternoon, HSE National Lead for Testing and Tracing Niamh O'Beirne said that the positivity rate among tests carried out in this cohort had also declined, dropping from 22% to 16%.
The positivity rate among those aged 0-14 has also fallen. "That age group were our highest number of referrals, and they have lowered quite significantly in the number of them coming forward for testing.
Their positivity has also gone from 22% to 16%," Ms O’Beirne said. "This is driving cases to fall overall and community positivity levels to fall also".