{"id":21963,"date":"2021-06-14T16:54:05","date_gmt":"2021-06-14T20:54:05","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/irishexaminerusa.com\/wp\/?p=21963"},"modified":"2021-06-15T10:56:48","modified_gmt":"2021-06-15T14:56:48","slug":"hse-warns-of-possible-impact-of-delta-variant-on-reopening-plans","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/irishexaminerusa.com\/wp\/?p=21963","title":{"rendered":"HSE Warns Of Possible Impact Of Delta Variant On Reopening Plans"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"\"
Deputy chief medical officer Dr Ronan Glynn (PA Wire\/PA Images)<\/figcaption><\/figure>Public health bosses have said they are \u201cconcerned\u201d about the impact the Delta variant may have in the coming weeks.<\/p>\n

It comes after UK prime minister Boris Johnson was forced to delay reopening plans by four weeks until July 19th, as a result of the rapid growth of the variant there.<\/p>\n

Speaking on Monday, deputy chief medical officer Dr Ronan Glynn urged people who are not yet vaccinated to remain vigilant.<\/p>\n

\u201cOne thing that we\u2019re particularly concerned about is the Delta variant, and what impact that may have over the coming weeks,\u201d he told Beat 102-103.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe\u2019re very keen for people, particularly people who have not been vaccinated, continue to follow the basic messages so that we don\u2019t run into trouble over the coming weeks.\u201d<\/p>\n

The number of Delta variant cases in the Republic has increased to 126, according to the latest update from the HSE.<\/p>\n

In Northern Ireland, 111 probable and confirmed cases of the variant were detected up to last week.<\/p>\n

Last week, Taoiseach Miche\u00e1l Martin said \u201call hands on deck\u201d are needed to deal with what he called the \u201cdark cloud on the horizon\u201d of the Delta variant of Covid-19, first identified in India.<\/p>\n

He called for a collective effort from political leaders across Ireland and the UK to tackle new strains of the coronavirus.<\/p>\n

The North’s outgoing First Minister Arlene Foster said the Delta variant now makes up around 20-25 per cent of new cases there, raising concerns that case numbers and hospital admissions could rise in the weeks ahead.<\/p>\n

The issue was high on the agenda of a meeting of the British-Irish Council in Co Fermanagh on Friday.<\/p>\n

Mr Martin said: \u201cWhat was interesting in the discussions this morning, what my ears were particularly alert to was on the various communications around the Delta variant, for example.<\/p>\n

\u201cAnd some jurisdictions saying to us, we\u2019re not quite out of the woods yet.\u201d<\/p>\n

He added: \u201cI think it brought home the necessity for us to work very closely together, in terms of monitoring the evolution of Covid, and in particular, the latest cloud on the horizon, it being the Delta variant.<\/p>\n

\u201cI think it\u2019s through close collaboration that we can work, but we need to have all hands on deck, in terms of dealing with what has been a very serious issue for the people we represent.\u201d<\/p>\n

On Monday, 242 additional cases of Covid-19 were confirmed in the Republic, the Department of Health said.<\/p>\n

There are currently 67 patients in hospital with the disease, 23 of whom are in intensive care units.<\/p>\n

Daily case numbers may change due to future data review, validation and update, owing to the cyberattack on the HSE.<\/p>\n

Share this:<\/h3>