ANOTHER SPLIT ON REOPENING

Confidence to lift rules lashed by rise in cases

TENSIONS between the Cabinet and the National Public Health Emergency Team (NPHET) have resurfaced over the easing of restrictions next Friday.

The last remaining restrictions that were imposed to combat the spread of Covid-19 were due to lapse on October 22.

However, a sudden, sharp increase in the number of cases, as well as other strains on the health service, mean there will almost certainly not be a full halt of the measures.

The use of vaccine certificates may also be extended, as will mask wearing and social distancing.

However, there is a major disconnect between NPHET and Cabinet in relation to further easing of restrictions.

It is understood Chief Medical Officer Dr Tony Holohan will return from annual leave to chair a meeting of NPHET on Monday. The CMO will then advise the

‘We don’t know how far we can go’

Government whether the complete unwinding of restrictions should proceed on October 22.

The Deputy CMO Dr Ronan Glynn yesterday issued a video on Twitter urging people to continue to ‘work from home where possible’ until early next year.

Dr Glynn said that over the last ten days there had been a ‘deteriorating picture’ in the levels of the virus across ‘most age groups’.

One Cabinet member described Dr Glynn’s comments as ‘unhelpful and premature’.

A separate Cabinet source acknowledged that ‘the situation won’t get much better or worse until spring or summer’.

Taoiseach Micheál Martin and Minister for Foreign Affairs Simon Coveney both gave strong indications that the Government favours unwinding restrictions as far as possible.

Mr Martin said that ‘the Government position is as announced in September, that there will be a phased return to the office – that is the Government position and it has not changed’.

Mr Coveney said that ‘the likelihood is that there’ll be a significant removal of restrictions next week’ but added it remained to be seen ‘whether we’re able to go as far as we would’ve liked’.

The Taoiseach disagreed with Chair of the NPHET Epidemiological Modelling Advisory Group Philip Nolan’s comments on Thursday, saying that going out with a case of the sniffles should be seen in the same light as drink driving.

Mr Martin said that he ‘doesn’t agree with that approach’ and it ‘wasn’t the language he would have used’ as he doesn’t think the two situations are ‘parallel’.

There is uncertainty over whether normal trading hours will return for pubs, with a current 11.30pm curfew still in place. The return to normal hours would also facilitate the return of nightclubs.

The Taoiseach also pointed out that large levels of social interaction could be one possible explanation for the latest, sudden spike in the number of cases.

‘I don’t believe that is a particular contributor here to the worsening of figures. I think it is a wider issue of congregation more generally – social gatherings and so on. There is also a seasonality factor here in terms of climate,’ he said.

CEO of the Health Service Executive Paul Reid said that while there had been a ‘huge swing’ in Covid19 cases it was not time to press the ‘panic button’.

The Department of Health confirmed another 1,941 Covid-19 cases last night. There were 413 people being treated in hospital for the virus yesterday, 73 of whom were in ICU.

However, Professor Karina Butler, Chair of the National Immunisation Advisory Committee (NIAC), meanwhile, said that ‘98%’ of vaccinated people who are currently in ICU with the virus have underlying conditions. However, she said that the ‘real elephant in the room’ is the unvaccinated proportion of the population. When asked if vaccine protection was ‘waning’ she said that some groups’ protection falls more quickly than others. ‘We know that your immunity – in terms of infection, in terms of protection against infection – certainly tends to drop off quite quickly over the first couple of months and then more slowly,’ she told Morning Ireland. ‘For certain groups, there may be that beginning of waning when you get beyond six to eight months.’ Prof Butler could not, however, confirm when NIAC’s advice on booster shots for the wider population would be available, despite Tánaiste Leo Varadkar telling the Dáil on Thursday that the Government expected it next week. She insisted that as soon as it is ready, it will be presented to the Government.