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A prominent epidemiologist warned that family gatherings during Christmas could lead to more Covid-related deaths in the spring.
Dr. Gabriel Scally said now is not the time for big gatherings and revealed that he will give up meeting his own relatives this Christmas.
It comes after the government announced a large-scale reopening of the country and the economy throughout December.
Dr Scally of the Royal Society of Medicine said: “If we have a very merry Christmas and meet a lot of friends and relatives, then I am afraid that in January and February we might as well be burying some relatives.
“That is the cruel truth of this virus. It is desperately dangerous and we must not allow it to reappear.”
(Image: Niall Carson / PA Wire)
But speaking on RTE Saturday with Katie Hannon, Dr. Scally said the end of the pandemic is on the horizon.
He added: “In the next month or two, we will start to see a large number of people vaccinated, and why would anyone really want to risk going to social gatherings or large family gatherings right now? This is not the time.”
Dr. Scally’s concerns echo those expressed by the National Public Health Emergency Team (Nphet) in a letter sent to Health Minister Stephen Donnelly ahead of Friday’s announcement of the lifting of restrictions.
Nphet warned that “if restrictions are now eased to a similar degree but more rapidly than in the summer … in winter and during the Christmas period, a third wave of diseases will occur much more quickly and with higher mortality than the second” .
Dr. Scally said that he would prefer that the Government take a more cautious approach.
He said, “I think when you’ve done well, there’s a temptation to think you can take your foot off the brake.”
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“The virus is so infectious and so dangerous that it can accelerate again very, very quickly. It would be more cautious than the government has been in December, especially in the run-up to Christmas.”
While Dr Scally said that Ireland has done “exceptionally well” in the battle against the virus, he said that Covid-19 “is still circulating at too high a level.”
When asked about who planned to travel home for Christmas, he replied, “This is not the time to do it.
“This is the time to show your love for your friends and family by keeping them safe.”
He said the effects of the virus will be magnified “because it is winter and people are indoors.”
He added: “They tend to keep doors and windows closed. That is absolutely creating the atmosphere that loves the virus.”
Announcing the country’s reopening on Friday, Taoiseach Micheal Martin said: “By easing restrictions, we go as far as we believe the best balance of health, economic and social considerations is possible. But no more.
“The Government and I are pleased that this combination of new arrangements strikes a safe balance between keeping the pressure on the disease and creating a space for families, friends and loved ones to be together this Christmas.”
Meanwhile, the Department of Health reported seven other Covid-19-related deaths in Ireland on Saturday, and another 243 confirmed cases.
It brings the total number of Covid-19-related deaths to 2,050 and the total number of confirmed cases to 71,942.
Of the cases reported on Saturday, 137 are men and 104 women, and 71% are under 45 years of age.
A total of 91 of the new cases were in Dublin, 26 in Donegal, 18 in Cork, 16 in Waterford, 15 in Limerick, and the remaining 77 were spread over 18 other counties.
The number of people receiving treatment in intensive care units dropped from four to 31.
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