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The Taoiseach has refused to \u201cspeculate\u201d on tight Covid-19 restrictions remaining in place until June.<\/p>\nThe Taoiseach has refused to \u201cspeculate\u201d on tight Covid-19 restrictions remaining in place until June.<\/p>\n
Miche\u00e1l Martin was speaking after deputy chief medical officer Dr Ronan Glynn indicated on Thursday that tough restrictions could remain in place until June.<\/p>\n
On Friday, Mr Martin said he would not speculate about changes to the public health restrictions for April and that the Government will inform the public in the next couple of weeks of any changes to the measures.<\/p>\n
\u201cI am not going to speculate but we will give people clear indications in advance of the 5th of April as to how we see April panning out,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
\u201cI don\u2019t believe in speculating beyond that and we will certainly make it very clear to people.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe are thinking and reflecting on the outdoor situation and outdoor activities and what might be possible there because mental health is very important.\u201d<\/p>\n
Mr Martin added: \u201cWe do understand and get it that people are fed up.<\/p>\n
\u201cI want to thank people, I think people have been remarkable. We have brought numbers down from a very high level after Christmas to very, relatively low levels. They\u2019re still high.<\/p>\n
\u201cOur big concern is the variant. This variant is more transmissible. And we know from British research again, that it\u2019s more deadly.\u201d<\/p>\n
The Taoiseach was speaking at the Port of Cork on Friday as he announced \u20ac405 million funding for regeneration projects in Cork city and county.<\/p>\n
Mr Martin also said he would have no issue taking the AstraZeneca Covid-19 vaccine if he was offered it.<\/p>\n
He added that the Government was \u201cgearing up\u201d to resume administering the jab after its use was temporarily suspended in Ireland \u201cin an abundance of caution\u201d over the raising of concerns around blood clots.<\/p>\n
The National Public Health Emergency Team (Nphet) is considering whether to resume the vaccine after a ruling by the European Medicines Agency (EMA) that the AstraZeneca vaccine is \u201csafe and effective\u201d.<\/p>\n
It is expected to make a decision later on Friday.<\/p>\n
Asked whether he would take the AstraZeneca vaccine, Mr Martin said: \u201cYes I would, I would indeed.<\/p>\n
\u201cI expect a decision will be made today in relation to that. We\u2019re gearing up in terms of resuming that.\u201d<\/p>\n