The HSE says a plan has been agreed which will soon allow labs and hospitals to be able to carry out 100,000 COVID-19 tests a week.
There's expected to be a rise in demand for testing in the coming days when new criteria is introduced.
It'll see anyone with a cough, fever or shortness of breath eligible for a test.
CEO of the HSE, Paul Reid, says a plan's now been agreed to ramp up capacity from the current capacity of 10,000 a day.
He said that the 'roadmap' will be going to Cabinet in the coming days, and that tensions between the HSE and Department of Health on that issue have been “constructive”.
Mr Reid has also warned that it's now 'very clear' that COVID-19 will impact the Irish health system for longer than previously expected, and will ‘most likely’ continue into 2021.
He says a ‘very different’ approach will now be needed in the system over the coming years - noting that aspects of the Sláintecare reform plan may need to be ‘challenged’ or re-evaluated due to the new situation.
He said: “The [COVID-19] model we have put in place has been a kind of warzone model… but looking forward to the future… we’re going to have to build a new model."
