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People have been warned that they should sacrifice socializing with friends if they want to reunite with older relatives over Christmas or there could be another spike in Covid-19 cases.
They cannot afford to keep people from other households company in pubs and restaurants, otherwise they run the risk of contracting the virus and passing it on to vulnerable relatives who are part of their Christmas gathering.
Medical Director Dr. Tony Holohan warned that Ireland could find itself in serious trouble if people “let go” as the country begins its gradual exit from the blockade today.
Dr. Ronan Glynn, deputy chief medical officer, said: “If you are thinking of meeting with older relatives or people from different households, now is not the time to socialize with friends.
“If we have significant levels of intergenerational mixing in the Christmas and New Years period and if that comes after weeks of socializing now, we will end up with significant problems with the number of cases and the trajectory of the disease,” he added.
Dr. Holohan admitted that it will be a “challenge” to stop the spread of the infection if festive socialization increases and each person does not accept their “individual responsibility.”
The Christmas holidays “shouldn’t be happening,” he said.
Cases will increase if there is more entertainment among friends and people do not do their best to reduce their contacts.
Alcohol is at the center of many scenes in which the virus was transmitted and is a “very important common factor” in transmission. He also called on people to stay away from crowds in stores, saying that no one is “forced” to get into these situations, whether in the store or on a bus.
However, he praised the store management for the way in which they have demonstrated their commitment to providing a safe environment for staff and customers.
For the first time, both Dr. Holohan and Dr. Glynn wore face masks when entering and leaving the press room in the Health Department for the evening briefing.
Dr. Holohan spoke up when another Covid-related death was announced, bringing the death toll to 119 from 37 in September.
Yesterday there were 306 new cases, although at this point it was expected to be 50-100.
Yesterday’s cases include 108 in Dublin, 30 in Limerick, 22 in Galway, 17 in Donegal, 15 in Wicklow, 14 in Cork. The remaining 100 cases are spread across 18 other counties.
The number of Covid patients in the hospital is stable: 244 were in the wards yesterday, including 31 in intensive care.
Ireland is among the best countries in Europe during this second winter wave of the virus and the 14-day incidence rate has now dropped to 89.2 per 100,000, compared with more than 300 per 100,000 in October.
Deceased
The European average of deaths is 40 per day, but in Ireland it is as low as six. If restrictions were not imposed here when there are, there would be many more cases and hospitalizations.
It comes as HSE public health physicians, who are key to managing the Covid-19 pandemic, warned yesterday that they will participate in a three-day strike if their long-running campaign to obtain consultant status and a pay increase is not addressed. .
Doctors who are members of the Irish Medical Organization said they will go on strike on Thursday, January 14.
Two more strikes will follow on Thursday, January 21 and Friday, January 22.
Irish independent
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