{"id":25600,"date":"2022-03-22T09:35:00","date_gmt":"2022-03-22T13:35:00","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/irishexaminerusa.com\/wp\/?p=25600"},"modified":"2022-03-23T13:37:04","modified_gmt":"2022-03-23T17:37:04","slug":"no-plans-to-reintroduce-covid-restrictions-says-tanaiste","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/irishexaminerusa.com\/wp\/?p=25600","title":{"rendered":"No Plans To Reintroduce Covid Restrictions Says T\u00e1naiste"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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Tens of thousands of cases were reported in Ireland over the bank holiday weekend, while the number of people in hospital with the virus is climbing (PA Images)<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

There are no plans to reintroduce Covid-19 restrictions despite a rapid rise in cases, the T\u00e1naiste has said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Tens of thousands of cases were reported in Ireland over the bank holiday weekend, while the number of people in hospital with the virus is climbing steadily.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

As of Monday morning, there were 1,308 Covid-19 patients in hospital, with 49 in intensive care.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

But T\u00e1naiste Leo Varadkar said these figures had been anticipated, and no consideration is being given to a return to restrictions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Speaking before a meeting of the Cabinet, he said: \u201cIt is absolutely the case that we\u2019re seeing an increase in the number of people in hospital with Covid.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWhat is somewhat reassuring is about half of the people in hospital with Covid and in ICU with Covid, would be there anyway \u2013 they are actually in because of other conditions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cAt the moment, there is no public health advice being given to us that we should reintroduce masks or re-impose restrictions in any way. Unless that comes, we\u2019re not going to do it. We don\u2019t anticipate it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cIt was always expected that when restrictions were eased, that there would be an increase in infections. That will fall off over the next couple of weeks.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Mr Varadkar said that some hospitals were under pressure and being forced to curtail elective procedures.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

But he stressed: \u201cWe don\u2019t have any plans to re-impose restrictions.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

When Ireland finally eased some of the last remaining Covid-19 restrictions, it was accompanied by the winding down of the National Public Health Emergency Team (Nphet).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

That body, led by the Chief Medical Officer Dr Tony Holohan, had been a constant source of guidance and advice to the Government since the pandemic began in early 2020.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cIt is often the case in winter periods, and the typically flu season runs in Ireland from October, November until the end of March,\u201d Mr Varadkar said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cIn many ways, Covid-19 is replacing flu as the main winter virus that affects us during the winter, and sometimes it is necessary to pare back or defer elective activities.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cIt is not desirable. It is not something that we would like to see happening.\u201d<\/p>\n

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