NPHET meets to discuss ‘worrying’ spread of Covid-19



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The National Public Health Emergency Team will meet today to discuss Covid-19’s path in Ireland, as opposition parties ask for clarification on what the government knew over the weekend about NPHET’s concerns about the increase. of cases.

Medical director Dr. Tony Holohan has said he is “deeply concerned” about the spread of the coronavirus since Sunday when NPHET recommended that the country be placed at Level 5, the highest level of restrictions.

Health officials said there has been a “significant deterioration” as the disease grows 4% each day.

It is anticipated that if nothing changes, the number of daily cases could reach around 1,300 early next month.

Dr. Holohan has said that he was now more concerned about the trajectory of the virus, as all key indicators have worsened since Sunday.

He stressed the importance of people following steps to help control the spread of the disease.

The group will discuss the trajectory of the virus and consider whether further recommendations are needed.

Opposition parties have asked the government to clarify what it knew over the weekend about the growing level of concern at NPHET about the increase in Covid-19 cases.

Dr. Holohan said he spoke with Health Minister Stephen Donnelly last Saturday and again before and after the NEPET meeting on Sunday.

Labor leader Alan Kelly asked Mr. Donnelly to make a statement in the Dáil today detailing what he knew about the NPHET thinking last weekend.

Kelly also wants Taoiseach Micheál Martin to clarify what his understanding was last Sunday.

These calls were repeated by other parties and the co-leader of the Social Democrats, Róisín Shortall, asked when the minister and the Taoiseach told Tánaiste Leo Varadkar about the NPHET deliberations.

Sinn Féin health spokesman David Cullinane said the government had created the impression that NPHET had a solo career and this is not the case.


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Donnelly said he knew on Saturday that NPHET would meet the next day.

He discussed the deteriorating situation with Dr. Holohan early on Sunday, but only learned of the Level 5 recommendation after the meeting that night.

Meanwhile, the parliamentary party Fianna Fáil heard last night that the goal is to make the Level 3 restrictions work.

It was also confirmed that Martin has contacted British Prime Minister Boris Johnson about Covid-19 fees in Northern Ireland and the restrictions here.

More than 1,400 new cases of the virus were reported on the island yesterday, with 828 in Northern Ireland and 611 in the Republic.

Contact is scheduled to continue for the next few days.

Additional reports Mícheál Lehane



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