Closing schools next month would see Ireland ‘back to normal for Paddy’s Day’

Closing schools for the month of January would mean there could be a return to “normal” life in the Republic by St. Patrick’s Day, a DCU professor said.

Professor Anthony Staines warned that the country could face 1,000 cases each day by the end of December if the numbers surrounding Covid-19 continue to rise.

The professor is part of a group of European scientists and doctors calling for a different strategy to better manage the virus.

“We have identified a strategy that we believe will get Ireland back to normal before Paddy’s Day,” he said.

“Now that strategy is not zero cost. [The] price of the same would be important restrictions for January.

“One option that would make the restrictions end faster would be to close schools in January, open in February and execute the completion certificate at the end of June and through July.”

A return to “normalcy” for St. Patrick’s Day on March 17 would mark just over a year since the beginning of the pandemic in the Republic.

New restrictions

Now new restrictions will be established for visits to companies and homes in the Republic as of December 30.

It follows the recommendation of the National Public Health Emergency Team (Nphet) of the “Level 3 plus” restrictions as of December 28.

Political sources have said privately that these restrictions could be in effect until a vaccine rollout begins to take effect.

The Republic’s medical director warned that the country “simply cannot cope” with the current levels of infection, after 582 new cases and six more deaths were confirmed last night.

We are still chasing behind it

Professor Staines said Nphet is correct in recommending the re-imposition of restrictions shortly before the New Year.

“I’m afraid they are probably taking the necessary actions and I am not glad of the need, but it is what was predicted in advance,” he said.

“One of the challenges that I create for the Government and for all of us is this: at this moment we are reacting to the virus, so when the viral incidence changes, when the number of cases changes, we do something different, but we ‘still pursue it” .

Across the border, paramedics from the Republic have come to the aid of hospitals overwhelmed by the pandemic.

It comes as Northern Ireland’s political leaders have clashed amid a blame game over rising Covid-19 infection rates in the region, and unanimously agreed to impose a six-week blanket lockdown that will take effect on the day. of San Esteban.