{"id":23564,"date":"2021-10-19T11:53:00","date_gmt":"2021-10-19T15:53:00","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/irishexaminerusa.com\/wp\/?p=23564"},"modified":"2021-10-20T11:57:21","modified_gmt":"2021-10-20T15:57:21","slug":"holohan-warns-that-restrictions-may-need-to-be-reintroduced-in-ireland","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/irishexaminerusa.com\/wp\/?p=23564","title":{"rendered":"Holohan Warns That Restrictions May Need To Be Reintroduced In Ireland"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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A return to lockdowns can’t be ruled out, Nphet warned (PA)<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

The reintroduction of Covid-19 restrictions cannot be ruled out, the National Public Health Emergency Team (Nphet) has warned.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In a letter sent to Health Minister Stephen Donnelly, published on Tuesday, chief medical officer Dr Tony Holohan said that the pandemic is not over.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

On Tuesday, the Government set out a plan for easing of Covid-19 restrictions from Friday that will nonetheless see some remaining in place until February 2022.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cOver the course of the last two weeks we have seen a worsening of the Covid situation,\u201d Taoiseach Miche\u00e1l Martin\u00a0said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThese figures are a cause of concern and a timely reminder of how dangerous this virus is.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Government had hoped to see the lifting of the vast majority of Covid-19 restrictions from October 22nd.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Mr Martin said: \u201cThe progress we have made together is real, and it has to be protected.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThe changes we have made gives us the space to make sure that the next steps we take is safe.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In the letter, Dr Holohan said: \u201cDisease incidence across the country is high and increasing.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThe national seven-day average of daily cases has increased from 1,258 two weeks ago to 1,744 as of today, while the 14-day incidence per 100,000 population has increased from 378 to 466 over the same time period.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

He said that there was a \u201cworsening disease profile\u201d in Ireland, with the future trajectory of the virus \u201cvery uncertain\u201d.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Dr Holohan said that the conditions had not been met that could permit Nphet to advise the Government to move forward with the easing of the vast majority of restrictions, as hoped.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThe Nphet concluded that the epidemiological situation has deteriorated and is now uncertain and precarious,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

He said that serious pressure remained on the health service.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

According to Dr Holohan, the highly transmissible delta variant has made suppressing the virus even more difficult.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThe Nphet cautions that the re-imposition of public health restrictive measures may be warranted should the application of the above measures not have sufficient effect on the profile of disease,\u201d he wrote to the health minister.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cIn this regard, compliance with basic public health measures by the general public and across sectors will be critical.\u201d<\/p>\n

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