Nation expects a second wave
Fear rises as Government mulls lifting restrictions
MORE than three quarters of Irish people fear that a second wave of Covid-19 is likely amid a worrying increase in cases.
The number of new Covid cases has doubled in the last fortnight with 32 new cases confirmed yesterday – the highest daily increase in more than a month.
A new survey has revealed that nearly half of Irish adults support introducing tougher restrictions to limit the spread of the virus.
The Government will meet today to discuss whether to proceed with the final phase of lifting Ireland’s lockdown restrictions, a move that would see pubs and nightclubs reopen.
A decision on whether to draw up a ‘green list’ of low-risk countries to which Irish people could travel without having to self-isolate on their return is also set to be discussed.
However, with the infection rate among young people continuing to climb, there are now real concerns about what impact the further easing of restrictions will have.
The Amárach Public Opinion Survey for the Department of Health has revealed that 78% of people are worried that a second wave of Covid-19 is likely.
That figure is up from 54% on June 8 when the country entered into phase two of reopening.
The survey of 1,900 Irish adults found that nearly half of all respondents (48%) supported implementing more Covid-19 restrictions. Only 33% said that there should be fewer restrictions, which is down from 72% on June 8.
Yesterday, a group of 14 scientists and academics called on the Government to tighten restrictions to avoid a second wave.
The ‘Covid-19 strategy’ signed by leading infectious disease experts and immunologists calls for:
O The ‘proper regulation of travel’ through quarantining and testing;
O The legal enforcement of a requirement to wear face masks;
O A ‘Green Zone’ strategy to be adopted in areas with low transmission rates, where restrictions would be relaxed;
O Increased hygiene and social distancing restrictions in high-risk areas;
O The establishment of safe travel bridges with zero-Covid areas.
The strategy is supported by Professor Sam McConkey of the Royal College of Surgeons; epidemiologist Prof. Anthony Staines of DCU; infectious diseases ecologist Prof. Gerard Killeen of UCC; and immunologist Dr Tomás Ryan of Trinity College Dublin, among others.
Reacting to the Amárach poll, Prof Killeen told the Irish Daily Mail: ‘Most people are putting two and two together. They see there is a little outbreak there, there’s a house party, which we know about in Killarney, there are a few GAA clubs closing down.
‘These little small clusters, they eventually lead into something bigger, and as soon as you start to put all the pieces back together again, and those bigger transmission events get possible, you are not talking about clusters anymore; you are certainly talking about spikes. One or two spikes and then you are into a wave.’
Speaking in the Dáil yesterday, Taoiseach Micheál Martin said Acting Chief Medical Officer Dr Ronan Glynn has raised concerns about the increase in cases over the last two weeks.
He said: ‘From the outset of the pandemic, travel has never been banned officially. I’ve been speaking to the CMO, there are concerns in terms of increases in the number of cases over the last fortnight.
‘Congregated indoor settings is presenting a problem – 30 or 40 people in the house, for example, at house parties is an issue.’
The Dáil also heard yesterday that pubs that do not serve food do not know where they stand with regard to reopening.
A number of TDs asked the Taoiseach to fast-track the decision regarding pub reopenings on July 20, and to release the guidelines for publicans.
Dr Glynn has warned against assuming the National Public Health Emergency Team will automatically recommend moving to the final phase of reopening.
‘I think we are concerned about the increase in cases over the last five days,’ he said on Monday.
Yesterday, the Department of Health reported no new deaths from Covid-19 in Ireland, leaving the total at 1,746. However, 32 new confirmed cases bring the total number to 25,670.
Meanwhile, Tánaiste Leo Varadkar ruled out mandatory quarantine for people arriving into Ireland, saying it ‘turned out to be a bit of a disaster’ in Australia.
Numerous health experts have called for the Government to introduce mandatory quarantining for new arrivals in order to prevent re-importation of the virus, in particular from the US.
Dr Glynn said on Monday that mandatory quarantine would be a ‘desirable measure’. However, Mr Varadkar said the Department of Health and the Government have insisted mandatory quarantine would not be practical.
‘Australia tried mandatory quarantine and it turned out to be a bit of a disaster. The centres, the hotels in which they quarantine people became clusters for infection and now Melbourne is in a second lockdown,’ he said.
Mr Varadkar said the Government intends to publish a ‘green list’ of countries to and from which it is safe to travel without having to quarantine. He said: ‘If you are travelling between Ireland and a country on the green list, there will be no restrictions and that is based on science, based on the fact that travelling to one of those countries is no more dangerous. You are no more likely to get the virus there than a weekend in Dublin or a weekend in Killarney.’
Mr Varadkar also said they are considering random testing for people arriving here in Ireland from high-risk countries.
Yesterday also saw budget airline Ryanair announce it is cutting its Ireland-UK schedules for the months of August and September by up to 1,000 flights.
‘Clusters lead to something bigger’ ‘That is based on science’