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The Government has been criticized for a lack of clarity on what pandemic restrictions will apply at Christmas.<\/p>\nThe Government has been criticized for a lack of clarity on what pandemic restrictions will apply at Christmas.<\/p>\n
Professor Philip Nolan, a leading member of the public health advice team Nphet, warned on Sunday that strict limits will be needed on Christmas get-togethers.<\/p>\n
Junior Minister Robert Troy failed to provide any clarity when asked about the remarks, saying the situation would be kept \u201cunder review\u201d.<\/p>\n
He said: \u201cI can\u2019t honestly say here today, in terms of what\u2019s going to happen at Christmas.<\/p>\n
\u201cOnly to say that the Government with Nphet, with the public health advice, are keeping the situation under constant review to ensure that we can open up the economy as much as possible in December, and to ensure that we can have as good a Christmas as possible under the circumstances.\u201d<\/p>\n
He added: \u201cChristmas will not be the same as previous Christmases, it can\u2019t be the same as previous Christmases. This is a highly contagious disease.\u201d<\/p>\n
Sinn Fein TD Kathleen Funchion told RTE\u2019s The Week In Politics that the Government had to provide more clarity to allow people to plan for the festive season.<\/p>\n
She said: \u201cPeople were told for the last number of weeks that they had to go into Level 5 to sort of save Christmas. Now we\u2019re seeing that it\u2019s going to be very restricted anyway.<\/p>\n
\u201cI think the vast majority of people understand that the regulations are in place for a reason and want to follow them.<\/p>\n
\u201cBut there does need to be a lot more in terms of planning and telling people what exactly it\u2019s going to look like if they are going to restrict people in relation to Christmas and Christmas visits.\u201d<\/p>\n
In an interview with the Sunday Business Post, Professor Philip Nolan warned that easing restrictions at Christmas risked a third wave of the virus in the new year.<\/p>\n
He said: \u201cIf we go back to the level of social contact we had in August and September, we are storing up difficulty for ourselves in January and February.\u201d<\/p>\n
Dr Nuala O\u2019Connor, the Irish College of General Practitioners\u2019 lead adviser on Covid-19, said the focus this year will be on a \u201csafe\u201d Christmas.<\/p>\n
She told Newstalk Breakfast: \u201cI think we\u2019ve all got to think carefully as a society how we\u2019re going to manage Christmas this year.<\/p>\n
\u201cChristmas is really important in Ireland. What we have to do is try and focus on how we can have Christmas but in a safer manner.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe know now how to get these virus numbers down and how to keep them down and it\u2019s really about narrowing the amount of people we meet on a regular basis<\/p>\n
\u201cWe also need to focus on how we can meet people safely.<\/p>\n
\u201cYes, Christmas will be a bit different because if we try to have it the normal way, if there\u2019s too much getting together of people in closed, crowded, poorly ventilated indoor spaces, that\u2019s exactly where this virus loves to spread.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe have to start thinking positively and be creative and inventive on how we can get together safely and have that connection with friends and family.\u201d<\/p>\n
Nphet chairman Cillian De Gascun said at the weekend the advice body was considering introducing a limit on the number of close contacts people will be allowed at Christmas.<\/p>\n