Tánaiste Leo Varadkar has said 'there's no need to panic at this stage' over the Delta variant of Covid-19.
Government Ministers were briefed on the rising number of infections linked to the Delta variant, first identified in India, today.
Minister for Health Stephen Donnelly expressed concern to colleagues over the number of Delta variant cases in Derry, especially among the 18-24 age group, and its potential to spread into Donegal, according to The Irish Times.
He added that the suspected Delta variant outbreak in Athlone is being closely monitored.
The briefing from the National Public Health Emergency Team (Nphet) was short with a detailed briefing expected early next week.
Mr Varadkar said: “We will not make a final decision on that until next Thursday (July 1st) when we have seen more data and have the most up-to-date advice from Nphet.
“It’s important to understand that the Delta variant will become dominant in Ireland. That’s how the virus works. As the number of Delta variants increases the number of other variants will go down.
“What we want to see are the figures for the total number of cases and whether that impacts on hospitals in any way.
“In the UK it has been the dominant variant there for weeks and weeks now. Notwithstanding that, they have managed to keep indoor dining open, but they are now experiencing a small increase in hospitalisations.”
Health professionals are expressing increased concern about the easing of restrictions on indoor hospitality services on July 5th.
On RTÉ radio’s Today with Claire Byrne show, Dr Mary Favier, Nphet member and former president of the Irish College of General Practitioners, said there was a need to be cautious as it was important to avoid a situation where hospitals were again being “overrun”.
Dr Favier also urged people to turn up for their vaccination appointments as “a substantial number” of people did not attend appointments.
Vaccination
They should “turn down” doing anything else and get the vaccine, she said. People should also get their second dose of the vaccine as it would “make all the difference”.
A suggestion that young people aged 19 to 24 should be vaccinated now instead of the 30 to 39 cohort had “merit” and was worth discussing, she said as they tended to work in hospitality and would be most at risk if there was a return to indoor facilities.
There had been “significant social solidarity” from the public in using age as the deciding factor.
Indoor dining
Deferring the easing of restrictions on indoor facilities for two to three weeks “could make all the difference” she said.
On the same programme Professor Aoife McLysaght of the Independent Scientific Advisory Group, said that Ireland had an opportunity to heed the warnings of what had happened in the UK where the relaxing of restrictions had been deferred.
Reopening the indoor hospitality sector at this stage was “going to be a disaster” she warned.
Donegal GP, Dr Denis McCauley, said that the malware cyberattack on the HSE had affected the reporting of Covid numbers, so it was difficult to assess the impact of the Delta variant.
Dr McCauley paid tribute to the public health system, saying that the work of the service, along with the public “generally following the rules” had helped to slow the spread of the virus.
Modelling
The “biggest break” in the fight against Covid was the vaccination programme, public health measures and the “bloody good work” of the public, he said. When asked about the easing of restrictions he said “let’s look at the numbers and see what transpires. If the modelling is looking ominous then we will have to be brave.”
