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The Minister for Health has said there is \u201cno fixed date\u201d for the return of schools.<\/p>\nThe Minister for Health has said there is \u201cno fixed date\u201d for the return of schools.<\/p>\n
Discussions are ongoing between the Department of Education and teachers\u2019 unions about holding the Leaving Cert and bringing students back to classrooms.<\/p>\n
The ASTI returned to the table this weekend after threatening to walk away in a move that spelled chaos for reopening plans.<\/p>\n
But Stephen Donnelly was unable to provide an answer when asked when schools would return.<\/p>\n
He told RT\u00c9\u2019s This Week: \u201cWe don\u2019t have that yet.<\/p>\n
\u201cI know Minister [Norma] Foley is involved in intensive talks and confidential talks with the stakeholders.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s great that the special schools have reopened on a phased basis, it\u2019s great that we\u2019re going to see the special classes in mainstream schools opening up again from Monday week, from February 22.<\/p>\n
\u201cObviously we need to get the Leaving Cert students back as quickly as possible, but my understanding is that there are no fixed dates as of yet.\u201d<\/p>\n
Mr Donnelly also said he has been \u201cvery taken aback\u201d by reports that some GPs are refusing to administer the coronavirus vaccine.<\/p>\n
He said he was concerned about reports that some of those are also refusing to provide information to patients on GPs who will provide vaccinations.<\/p>\n
He urged anyone who finds themselves in that situation to calls the HSE live line, which will direct them on where to get vaccinated.<\/p>\n
He added: \u201cMy view is GPs who don\u2019t want to vaccinate themselves, so be it.<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019m very surprised by that.<\/p>\n
\u201cCertainly the vast, vast majority of healthcare workers around the country have been, not only getting vaccinated, but very much demanding that they get vaccinated as quickly as possible.<\/p>\n
\u201cI don\u2019t believe anyone in the country should be denied a vaccination by their GP, I don\u2019t think it\u2019s acceptable behavior at all.\u201d<\/p>\n
Mr Donnelly was also unable to provide clarity on when lockdown restrictions will end.<\/p>\n
The current set of restrictions are up for review on March 5th, but the Government has played down the prospect of any widespread reopening.<\/p>\n
The Cabinet is due to agree a revision to the Living with Covid roadmap in the week of February 22nd.<\/p>\n
Asked how long Level 5 restrictions will continue, Mr Donnelly replied: \u201cI think that\u2019s the six million dollar question.<\/p>\n
\u201cI would love to have an accurate answer, as would Government, as would Nphet.\u201d<\/p>\n
He said the uncertainty over the impact of vaccines on transmissibility of the virus, and the threat of new variants, made it \u201cvery difficult for anyone, including our experts in our modelling teams, to say exactly how long it\u2019s going to take\u201d.<\/p>\n
He said the Covid numbers need to come down \u201cmuch more\u201d before society can reopen.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe results just in for Ireland at the moment, they\u2019re mixed.<\/p>\n
\u201cSteady progress is being made.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe\u2019re about mid table in Europe at the moment.<\/p>\n
\u201cThanks to everyone sticking with Level 5, we\u2019ve got the biggest fall in Europe at the moment in our 14-day rate.\u201d<\/p>\n
But he said there are concerns that the number of close contacts are increasing, positivity rates remain high and the percentage of new cases in Dublin are rising.<\/p>\n
\u201cSo it\u2019s far too early, unfortunately, given all of that, to be able to give accurate predictions as to when we can exit Level 5,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n