People must make decisions during Christmas knowing that they can spread Covid-19

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No one is told to choose between their friends and family before Christmas, but people must make decisions knowing that they can spread Covid-19, Dr. Tony Holohan said.

The medical director spoke as six more deaths from the virus were announced, along with 183 new cases, the lowest number since September, although deputy marketing director Ronan Glynn said an IT issue may have caused these cases to go unnoticed. reported up to 100.

Dr. Holohan said that while it wasn’t about choosing to see friends when pubs and restaurants open on Friday, the increase in social interactions would lead to more viral spread before Christmas.

“There are many things we can do, but we do not need to do all of them. Each of us individually must reduce our discretionary contacts.

If during the three weeks between now and Christmas we engage in a great deal of discretionary activity, that will lead to further transmission and put us in a precarious position before Christmas. “

He added that if Ireland returns to the spread levels seen in October, another lock may be needed. However, Dr. Holohan said this “was not inevitable.”

The 14-day incidence rate is now 79.7 per 100,000 people, another decrease from its peak of 287. However, Professor Philip Nolan said that while more cases were almost certainly found in the last 24 hours of advertised, it was important not to look at single day numbers and more on broader trends.

He said the positivity rate and the case count have remained “static” and showed that the level of spread of the disease has remained the same. He added that he would not expect the number of cases to decrease in the next week to 10 days.

The increase in daily deaths is due to older people contracting the disease towards the end of the second wave, said Professor Nolan. He warned that a high level of transmission through Christmas could lead to 800 to 1,200 cases per day in early January.

We really have to limit the number of contacts we have per week over Christmas. We really recommend extreme caution to avoid an increase in hospitalizations over Christmas and New Years. “

He said the improvement in disease levels “was seen across the country.” He added that an increase in social contacts immediately after the midterm break had led to an increase in viral transmission, increasing the R number.

Dr. Holohan said he was “always concerned” about misinformation about vaccines, adding that the anti-vaccine lobby had begun trying to cast doubt on a Covid-19 vaccine, on which data has yet to be released. .



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