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Health chiefs are still “excited” that the country should go into a total blockade.
The NPHET members met again on Thursday and it is believed that they did not lower their controversial recommendation on Sunday, which was to move the entire country to the Level 5 lockdown.
It is understood that they have recommended in their advice to the government that a total lockdown is still the best way to get the virus back under control.
A senior government source said: “Nothing has changed since Sunday, things may have gotten worse, and as far as I know, NPHET is still enthusiastic about your opinion.”
(Image: Colin Keegan, Collins Dublin)
The next step is for the special cabinet subcommittee of the government’s big hitters, Taoiseach Micheal Martin, Tanaiste Leo Varadkar and Green’s boss Eamon Ryan, and other high-ranking ministers, to meet Friday morning.
The top of the agenda will be the letter from NPHET, and also a report on possible fines and penalties for anyone who breaks the current lockdown rules.
There were more than 500 new Covid cases last night and Medical Director Dr. Tony Holohan in his latest public comments said he was “deeply concerned.”
Speaking on Wednesday, Dr. Holohan said, “All key indicators of the disease have further deteriorated in the three days since the last NPHET meeting on Sunday, October 4.”
On Thursday afternoon, Taoiseach Micheal Martin said he had confidence in his Minister of Health, Stephen Donnelly, and insisted that he never “interfere” with the deliberations of NPHET.
“Of course I have confidence in the Minister of Health.
“I have no indication of what NPHET will decide today.
“Generally, I do not interfere at all in the deliberations of NPHET.
“NPHET is a body that meets, adjudicates, we have a graduated plan as a country that involves gradually moving to different levels.
“Why did we decide to do that?
“Because we wanted to give the people of Ireland a certain sense of expectation, of anticipation of what might happen if the number of cases worsened, therefore it would go from Level 2 to Level 3, from Level 4 to Level 5.
“And the Government believes that we want to maintain that gradual response.
“As for the situation on Sunday night, I don’t know who leaked that.
“NPHET is a large body (it has 30-40 members at the same time) and I certainly can’t say one way or another who leaked it, but I’m sure Stephen Donnelly didn’t leak it.”
Meanwhile, one of the doctors on the coal face of the Covid challenge has said that he thinks it would be “a big question” to impose a Level 5 lockdown on people.
Martin Coyne, a GP based in Lifford, Co Donegal, explained that the public should adhere to current rules and avoid social gatherings.
Dr. Coyne said on RTE’s Today with Claire Byrne: “It’s a great decision to move to Level 5.”
“And you know what? Level 3 would work if people stick to it, if people do what they are supposed to do.
“If they did the simple things we’ve all heard about: wash their hands, keep their distance, avoid social gatherings, wear a mask in a store, all of those things.
“Level 3 might work, and we could avoid going to level 5, but it’s a great question.”
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