{"id":25567,"date":"2022-03-20T14:36:00","date_gmt":"2022-03-20T18:36:00","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/irishexaminerusa.com\/wp\/?p=25567"},"modified":"2022-03-21T11:39:01","modified_gmt":"2022-03-21T15:39:01","slug":"tanaiste-rise-in-case-numbers-a-cause-for-concern-not-a-cause-for-panic","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/irishexaminerusa.com\/wp\/?p=25567","title":{"rendered":"T\u00e1naiste: Rise In Case Numbers A ‘Cause For Concern, Not A Cause For Panic’"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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Leo Varadkar (PA Archive\/PA Images)<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

The T\u00e1naiste has ruled out bringing back Covid restrictions despite Ireland battling another wave of the virus.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Leo Varadkar said the rise in the number of Covid cases is a \u201ccause for concern, not a cause for panic\u201d.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

There are currently around 1,100 people in hospital with Covid, with some 50 people in ICU.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Mr Varadkar said about half of those with Covid were already in hospital and that their positive cases were picked up during routine checks.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Mr Varadkar made the comments as the country commemorated those who lost their lives to Covid.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The event, entitled the National Day of Remembrance and Reflection Ceremony, took place in the Garden of Remembrance in north Dublin on Sunday.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The ceremony paid tribute to those who died during the pandemic and those who battled the challenges posed by the disease.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

More than 6,600 people have died from Covid in Ireland since March 2020.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cEven as we mark this occasion today, there are about 50 people in ICU with Covid and 1,100 people in hospital,\u201d Mr Varadkar said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThat, of course, reminds us that the pandemic is ongoing.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cIt\u2019s a cause for concern, not a cause for panic.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWe\u2019re monitoring the situation very tightly, and really encouraging people who haven\u2019t had their booster to have that because we know that the immunity from the virus wears off.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWe\u2019re also giving consideration as to whether we need to start on a fourth dose program, particularly for older people in those who are medically vulnerable.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Asked whether the Government is considering bringing in further restrictions to deal with the current wave, Mr Varadkar said: \u201cI don\u2019t think it\u2019s going to require the reimposition of restrictions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cIt is a very different situation at the moment. About half of those in hospital with Covid would be in hospital anyway, it\u2019s incidental finding in their cases.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThis is another wave, but we don\u2019t anticipate it will necessitate the reimposition of restrictions, but other things need to continue.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWe need to make sure that people have those boosters and third doses.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

He said that Europe is currently seeing a second wave of the Omicron variant.<\/p>\n

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