{"id":23576,"date":"2021-10-22T10:00:51","date_gmt":"2021-10-22T14:00:51","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/irishexaminerusa.com\/wp\/?p=23576"},"modified":"2021-10-22T10:01:19","modified_gmt":"2021-10-22T14:01:19","slug":"taoiseach-government-concerned-about-winter-trajectory-of-covid-19","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/irishexaminerusa.com\/wp\/?p=23576","title":{"rendered":"Taoiseach: Government ‘Concerned’ About Winter Trajectory Of Covid-19"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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Taoiseach Miche\u00e1l Martin called for a ‘collective effort’ in the weeks ahead (PA)<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

The Government is concerned about the trajectory of Covid-19 heading into the winter months, the Taoiseach has said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Speaking on the fringes of the EU summit in Brussels on Friday, Miche\u00e1l Martin said the country is beginning to witness the \u201cseasonal backdrop\u201d to the disease.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Many virologists have suggested that Covid-19, like influenza, peaks in the colder, winter months.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Taoiseach has called for a \u201ccollective effort\u201d from the public to remain cautious in the weeks and months ahead.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

He said: \u201cI saw it last evening, all the member states are now worried in terms of what\u2019s happening in their countries because of Covid-19.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cAs we go into the winter, we are worried and we are concerned in terms of the trajectory of the disease.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

He added: \u201cI think we\u2019ve seen this seasonality dimension, some virologists and others would have argued for quite some time that there was a seasonal backdrop to Covid.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI think we\u2019re beginning to witness that. So, we have to monitor this.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThe phase we\u2019re now in does speak to a collective effort from everybody to be cautious and I detect that in the population as well, I think that is there.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cBut, at the same time, we\u2019ve got to work to live with Covid, challenging and all as that will be. We\u2019ve got to do everything we can now to resource the health service.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Mr Martin also suggested that Covid booster jabs, which are now being rolled out to the over-60s and the immunocompromised, would become as widely used as the flu vaccine.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

He said: \u201cI\u2019ve been saying this consistently for quite a while that, over time, something like the flu vaccine will emerge in relation to Covid-19.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cIt seems to me that the direction of travel is towards people receiving a booster to give added protection.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWe do have to also, in parallel with this, get the world vaccinated.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cEurope has performed very well in terms of the export of so many vaccines all over the world.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThe African situation is a matter of concern, I think 5 per cent vaccination rates. There is an imperative there, globally, that we would get continents like Africa vaccinated.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Taoiseach also defended the Government\u2019s handling of the reopening of the nightclub sector amid criticism from venues at last-minute changes to guidelines.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

He said: \u201cWe know that for the last year and a half and more now, that Covid has consistently interrupted our way of life.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWe\u2019re not living the way we lived before Covid. We have to adapt, we have to be nimble, we have to be quick to adapt.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cBut, on the plus side, I\u2019ve had feedback that quite a lot nightclubs are very happy with the fact that they\u2019re reopening.\u201d<\/p>\n

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