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An infectious disease specialist has said Dublin is on a trajectory of 5,000 Covid-19 cases a day for next month and an increase in deaths, unless the 1.5 million people “act now.”
Prof Sam McConkey said 0.5 to 1 percent, up to 50 people a day, could die from the virus, based on the country’s recent experiences in the pandemic.
Professor McConkey, head of international health and tropical medicine at the Royal College of Surgeons Ireland (RCSI), tweeted the prediction last night.
And this morning, the professor advised people in Dublin to socialize with the people they live with, saying that at best the weather will remain mild for a few days so that people can socialize outside.
“It’s a time for local leadership in different areas, let’s all do it,” Professor McConkey told Morning Ireland on RTÉ Radio 1.
“A lot of this is about reducing our social circle and staying home and not having parties.
“I think it is preferable to stay with the people in your own home, to go out with the people you live with.
“Going out with your own family is fine. I hope the weather is good.
“I think another blast of good weather would help us a lot because we are more outdoors during that time.
“If you’re going to date six, just date the same family.”
Professor McConkey said rates of the virus had been on the rise in Dublin since August 13.
The cases had “increased very markedly and dramatically,” he said.
“Where we are now is not a stable place. If we continue with the same lifestyle, the increase, which increases by 30% every five days, will increase.
“We have to mobilize the people of Dublin. We have to mobilize all business leaders.
“Organizations must say ‘what can we do differently on a voluntary basis?’
“This is not a pandemic that we want to spread, it requires action now.”
He said it was not about living in “panic and fear” but about adopting a “different way of life”.
“Where we are going on our current path, if we continue down this path, it is really shocking,” he said.
Although the Government will introduce new Covid-19 measures to introduce more restrictions in areas with higher numbers of cases, Professor McConkey considered that voluntary compliance was preferable.
“It depends on the people who live here (in Dublin),” he said. “Households, individuals, societies, employers and union organizations: it is up to people to act differently.
“I’m not sure a heavy-handed top-down approach works, it requires people to do their part, out of every 1.5 million people.”
“None of us want to shut down all of Ireland like we did on March 16.”
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