“If we can stamp it out in the community, that’s how we protect everybody.”
Ireland may need to go back to Phase Two if new cases of Covid-19 return to above 100 per day, an expert has warned.
Dr Cillian De Gascun, Director of the National Virus Reference Laboratory, said that a step backwards to Phase Two is possible if the number of cases rises above a certain point.
Speaking on RTÉ’s Today with Sarah McInerney, Dr De Gascun said we “would be looking at perhaps taking a step backwards into Phase Two” of restrictions.
“If there’s widespread community transmission of the virus, then it will get into schools, into residential care facilities, and into nursing homes – but if we can stamp it out in the community, that’s how we protect everybody,” Dr De Gascun said.
He stressed that people’s behaviours today can have an effect on what happens in two or three weeks’ time.
The advice of the National Public Health Emergency Team to tourists continues to be to avoid coming to the country.
Dr De Gascun said that Ireland had controlled the first wave already and had a “good handle” on where current infections were occurring.
Phase Two of reopening of Ireland involved staying within your county or within 20km of your home if you were travelling across county borders.
Organised outdoor activities including sport and exercise were limited to 15 people or less.
You were allowed to meet up to six people outside of your household, both indoors and outdoors, for social gatherings.
Public transport was severely limited in capacity and people were urged to only use it if they absolutely needed to.
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