Government criticized for lack of clarity on Christmas Covid restrictions

THE GOVERNMENT HAS BEEN criticized for the lack of clarity on what pandemic restrictions will apply at Christmas.

Professor Philip Nolan, a prominent member of the National Public Health Emergency Team (NPHET), warned today that strict limits will be needed at Christmas gatherings.

Deputy Minister Robert Troy did not provide any clarity when asked about the comments, saying the situation would remain “under review.”

He said: “Honestly, I can’t say here today, in terms of what will happen at Christmas.

“Just to say that the government with NPHET, with the public health council, are constantly reviewing the situation to ensure that we can open the economy as much as possible in December, and to ensure that we can have as good a Christmas as possible given the circumstances “.

Added:

Christmas will not be the same as the previous Christmas, it cannot be the same as the previous Christmas. This is a very contagious disease.

Sinn Féin TD Kathleen Funchion told RTÉ’s The Week in Politics that the government needed to provide more clarity so that people could plan for the holiday season.

She said: “For the last few weeks people were told they had to go to Level 5 to save Christmas. Now we are seeing that it is going to be very restricted anyway.

“I think the vast majority of people understand that regulations exist for a reason and they want to follow them.

But there needs to be a lot more in terms of planning and telling people what exactly it will be like if they are going to restrict people in relation to Christmas and holiday visits.

In an interview with the Sunday Business Post, Professor Philip Nolan warned that easing restrictions on Christmas risks a third wave of the virus in the new year.

He said: “If we go back to the level of social contact that we had in August and September, we will be accumulating difficulties for ourselves in January and February.”

Dr Nuala O’Connor, Senior Advisor to the Irish College of General Practitioners on Covid-19, said this year will focus on a “safe” Christmas.

She told Newstalk Breakfast: “I think we all have to think carefully as a society about how we are going to handle Christmas this year.

“Christmas is really important in Ireland. What we have to do is try to focus on how we can have Christmas, but in a safer way.

“Now we know how to reduce these virus numbers and how to keep them low, and it really is about reducing the number of people we meet on a regular basis.

“We also need to focus on how we can meet people safely.

“Yes, Christmas will be a little different because if we try to make it the normal way, if there are too many gatherings of people in closed, crowded and poorly ventilated spaces, that is exactly where this virus loves to spread.

“We have to start thinking positively and being creative and inventive about how we can meet safely and have that connection with friends and family.”

Nphet Chairman Cillian De Gascun said over the weekend that the advisory body was considering introducing a cap on the number of close contacts people will be allowed on Christmas.