It's 'really key' that all close contacts of confirmed coronavirus cases come forward to get a test, HSE chief Paul Reid says.
He's warned that people who don't come forward are putting themselves and their family at risk.
While 94% of close contacts do come forward for a test when contacted by the HSE, figures in the Business Post show there were still more than 14,000 no shows at test centres last month.
Speaking to Newstalk, Mr Reid says people need to both take a test and self-isolate for 14 days if they're identified as a close contact.
He said: "We make contact with people once they're identified as a close contact - and we schedule their appointment for a test, and it's really important they do come forward.
"If they don't come forward for a test, we do make contact again and reschedule for them."
He said that positivity rate is over 12% for close contacts, compared to the average rate of less than 4%.
Mr Reid added: "People are tired and wish this would go away... complacency sets in from a range of issues, whether it's public health measures or coming forward for testing.
"But the virus doesn't change, and we need to be consistent and relentless in our response to it."
It comes as the Government works on deciding what level of restrictions will be in place during December and the Christmas period.
Mr Reid said everyone needs to continue to make a "really special effort" over the coming days, so Government can have the "maximum flexibility" when deciding how to lift lockdown measures.
