[ad_1]
There were 527 new Covid-19 cases and five more coronavirus-related deaths reported by the Health Department on Saturday.
The new cases bring the number of Covid-19-related deaths in the state to 2,154 and the number of cases to 78,776.
Dr. Tony Holohan, Medical Director of the Department of Health, said: “The numbers that we are seeing in all the key indicators of the severity of the disease continue to give us a strong reason for constant and constant concern.
“As we move into a week with an exceptionally risky intrafamily and intergenerational mix, remember to act responsibly. Start this weekend. It’s never too late to cut your contacts, cancel plans, or avoid a crowd. “
Of the new cases, 271 are men and 255 are women and 65% of them are under 45 years of age. The highest number of new cases is recorded in Dublin with 191, followed by 54 cases in Cork and 44 in Donegal. The remaining cases are spread across 22 other counties.
Dr. Holohan said: “Keep in mind that it may well be the link in a chain of transmission that ends when a vulnerable loved one contracts this dangerous disease. Stop that chain of transmission now. Limit your movements today. “
Dr. Holohan’s renewed warning comes when a prominent academic said that a strict closure imposed from St. Stephen’s Day for a six-week period could see dank pubs reopen for St. Patrick’s Day.
Dr Tomás Ryan, associate professor at Trinity College Dublin’s Faculty of Biochemistry and Immunology, said he advocates for “aggressive suppression” with the goal of reducing the number of cases in the country to 10 cases per day and the virus . it was then kept low through effective test and trace services.
He suggested that a “relatively strong” lockdown of five or six weeks, starting on St. Stephen’s Day, could bring Ireland to this level of cases by the end of January.
“We could open alfresco dinners on Valentine’s Day and then open wet pubs for Saint Patrick’s Day and keep those aspects of the economy open.
“The idea is to get to Level 1 restrictions … and stay at Level 1 for the rest of the pandemic,” he said with Katie Hannon on RTÉ Radio One on Saturday.
The government will consider new advice from the National Public Health Emergency Team (Nphet) on Tuesday regarding new restrictions on hospitality and home visiting.
A letter to the government recommended “Level 3 plus” restrictions effective December 28, during which inter-county travel would stop and gourmet restaurants and bars would once again offer takeout-only services.
However, it is understood that the government will likely choose to delay restrictions on hospitality and home visiting until December 30 and that inter-county travel will be allowed until January 6.
Dr. Ryan said that the Independent Scientific Advisory Group, which advocates for a Zero Covid strategy, is calling for a pan-European approach in which cases are reduced to no more than 10 per day.
He said Ireland has a “golden opportunity” to aggressively suppress the virus, as both the north and south of the island face an “inevitable third lockdown”.
“We want to make this lockdown our last lockdown so that we can get back to normal in the new year.”
He said this proposed six-week lockdown would be more effective than previous lockdowns of similar length, as it would begin on St. Stephen’s Day and run during the “quietest time of year.”
He said that many people were not working during part of this period and that the school holidays could be extended by borrowing from the summer break.
“The most important thing is that I am of the opinion that if we have a contract with the government in which we know what the objective is … then we can expect public acceptance,” he said.
The alternative was nine to 12 months of repeated lockdowns, he added.
“So far the Government’s strategy of living with the virus has failed … We will not see a widespread launch of vaccines in Ireland until mid to late summer and we will not return to normal with just vaccines until fall / winter 2021 “, said.
Fine Gael TD Neale Richmond said Dr. Ryan’s position “does not compare to reality.”
He said Nphet had given “very clear advice” but that the government must consider “all factors”, including the impact of the restrictions on the economy, society and public health in general.
“We are an exposed island; we are not New Zealand. We are linked to a European system, ”he said.
Independent Senator Michael McDowell criticized Nphet for failing to provide statements showing how particular measures, such as banning inter-county travel, created positive net effects.
“In the past, Nphet advocated closing all factories, and thank goodness it didn’t happen this time,” he said, adding that every closure that Nphet advocates must be clearly justified with the use of data.
Sinn Féin’s Eoin O’Broin TD agreed with an Ireland-wide strategy, but disagreed with the 10 cases per day approach suggested by Dr Ryan.
He criticized the government’s communication and said that any new proposal must be announced “clearly and concisely.”
“The problem is not just that government sources are leaking; they are leaking different bits of information and contradictory information, ”he said.
Richmond also criticized government sources who leaked information about Nphet’s advice to reporters.
He encouraged members of the public to wait for the Taoiseach to announce the decisions after Tuesday’s cabinet meeting.
[ad_2]