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Tanaiste Leo Varadkar believes that the pandemic will end in 2021 and Ireland could return to normal by the summer.
The Fine Gael leader thinks that with vaccines, rapid tests and all the knowledge that experts have now, next year will be significantly better.
But the vaccine will have to be in place for two months before it makes a difference.
The Tanaiste told Newstalk Breakfast: “I can only give you a guess. With the vaccine, with the massive testing, and with the best knowledge of how to treat and prevent this virus, I think the pandemic will end in 2021.
“We would really have to give the vaccine for about two months before I see that it really makes a difference. It’s a two-dose vaccine.
(Image: PHOTOGRAPH BY JULIEN BEHAL)
“And it’s when we vaccinate the high-risk population and nursing homes, healthcare workers and others, it’s after they’ve received the second dose that you would expect to see a significant change in the number of cases and the rate of mortality.
“I think we are probably talking about something more like late March, early April … around Easter.
“And that doesn’t mean things are back to normal by then, but more in Level 2 space, Level 1 then.
“If things go well with the summer, the possibility of going back to things like soccer games and maybe even concerts, festivals and meetings as well.
“The first quarter of the year, still difficult.
“The second quarter of the year, life starts to look a little more normal again.”
El Tanaiste added that he “hopes” that vacations abroad will be at stake again next summer.
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