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A Monaghan GP has asked the government to consider a two-week “circuit breaker” lockout to halt the spread of Covid-19, which is now “out of control.”
Dr. Illona Duffy said her practice had noticed an increase in call levels from symptomatic patients in recent days, some of whom were “quite ill.”
The demographic age of the patients was much broader this time compared to the first wave in the spring, Dr. Duffy told RTÉ’s Morning Ireland on Wednesday.
This time it was “pan-generational,” from babies to adults to seniors, he added.
The cabinet will meet on Wednesday to decide whether to move the country to full Level 5 restrictions with Taoiseach Micheál Martin because he will be heading to the country later that day.
Unscheduled meeting
The unscheduled meeting comes after the state reported on Tuesday its highest number of daily Covid-19 cases (1,546) since the start of the pandemic.
The Minister of Public Expenditure, Michael McGrath, said that we live in turbulent times and that the Government will have to respond to the situation of increasing Covid-19 numbers.
He said that the cabinet meeting will receive advice from Nphet and that removal of the amendments to Level 5 will have to be considered.
A decision will be made on Wednesday afternoon and immediately communicated to the public, McGrath told RTÉ’s Morning Ireland.
However, he warned that although the arrival of the vaccine was positive, the last part of the trip could be “the most treacherous.” “We are in a very serious situation,” he said.
McGrath said Cabinet will have to make a decision on Wednesday afternoon that will have an impact on livelihoods (in the non-essential retail and leisure sectors) and there was great concern about it, but the government’s first responsibility was protect your people.
Growing cases
McGrath said he didn’t want to scare people about the health system’s ability to cope with the increase in Covid-19 cases.
“The best we can all do is follow the rules and get this under control,” he said. “It is within our gift to have this under control.”
The Minister also recognized the work of the teachers and the SNAs, but said the intention was for the schools to reopen next week as planned.
Dr Ronan Glynn, Deputy Chief Medical Officer, said that while the start of the Covid-19 vaccination program is “a very significant positive milestone”, the vaccines will not have “a positive impact” on the profile of the virus in Ireland in the next few weeks.
“Tonight, there are more people hospitalized with # COVID19 (411) than at any time since last May and admissions are increasing very rapidly,” Dr. Glynn said on Twitter Tuesday.
He urged the public to stay home, not meet other people, not go to work if you have any “troubling symptoms” and if you are identified as a close contact to restrict your movements and get tested when offered.
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