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Dr. Tony Holohan hopes that NPHET can make a positive recommendation regarding Ireland’s first phase of blockade to be eased this Friday.
Next Monday, May 18 is the date that phase one is scheduled to start if the emergency team is satisfied with the current response to the virus.
Dr. Tony Holohan said that, in terms of evidence of changes, they are not likely to “slow down” the easing of restrictions on May 18.
Currently, the response time from swab collection to the start of contact monitoring is five days.
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But the Medical Director hopes to reduce it to four days by the end of the week before phase one of Ireland’s reopening plan on Monday.
The National Public Health Emergency Team will meet on Tuesdays and Fridays when they will determine if Ireland is in a place to start reopening as planned.
Dr. Holohan said, “As we get closer to May 18, the next highlighted date on the Government Roadmap, we continue to monitor the key parameters associated with COVID-19. These include the number of new cases, the numbers admitted to the hospital and currently in the ICU and the number of deaths.
“I hope we can make a positive recommendation about reducing the restrictions.”
Earlier today, Health Minister Simon Harris also sounded positive when asked if the May 18 changes would proceed as planned.
Harris said: “Ireland is testing more than most countries. Constantly among the highest in the EU.
“Capacity has increased tremendously in the past few weeks and was clearly described by the HSE. NPHET will consider key metrics regarding COVID-19 when it meets throughout this week.”
A decision is likely to be made and announced to the public on Friday, as has been the routine thus far.
Another 15 people died of coronavirus in Ireland with 139 new confirmed cases.
There have now been 1,467 COVID-19 deaths in the country, with 23,135 cases in total since the outbreak began.
The figures were announced at a Health Department briefing on Monday night chaired by Medical Director Dr. Tony Holohan.
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Latest HPSC data
Today’s HPSC data, as of midnight on Saturday, May 9 (22,894 cases), reveals:
· 57% are women and 43% are men
· The median age of confirmed cases is 49 years
· 2,998 cases (13%) have been hospitalized
· Of the hospitalized, 383 cases have been admitted to the ICU
· 6,834 cases are associated with health workers
· Dublin has the highest number of cases with 11,175 (49% of all cases) followed by Kildare with 1,331 cases (6%) and then Cork with 1,232 cases (5%)
· Of those for whom the transmission status is known: community transmission represents 61%, close contact accounts 36%, travel abroad represents 3%
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