Lockdowns not on cards claims Martin
THE Taoiseach has reassured the public the Government is not contemplating another lockdown.
Micheal Martin insisted the vaccine rollout had put Ireland in a different situation from earlier in the pandemic, despite rising infection rates.
The 2,180 cases of coronavirus reported on Saturday was the highest number since January.
A further 1,380 cases were reported on Sunday.
While Mr Martin has insisted new measures are not on the horizon, he has already cautioned he cannot guarantee the lifting of the remaining restrictions will proceed as planned this coming Friday.
That warning last week came after health experts flagged concerns about the trajectory of the virus.
In an interview with the Sunday Independent, Mr Martin said: “We do not want to go back, and we are not contemplating going backwards.
“The only issue facing us now is going forward and that is a decision we will make on the advice we receive from Nphet.”
Social Protection Minister Heather Humphreys said there is concern in Government about increasing transmission rates.
She added Cabinet deliberations tomorrow will focus on the remaining restrictions, with the ongoing use of Covid certification set to be one issue under consideration.
She told RTE: “We are concerned about the rising numbers and we will be making a decision on Tuesday, and we will be looking at the remaining restrictions.”
Mrs Humphreys was also asked whether a call by Deputy Chief Medical Officer Dr Ronan Glynn for people to work from home where possible over the autumn and winter is at odds with the Government’s phased return to the workplace plan.
The minister insisted Government policy is clear, adding: “We want a phased return to work. And we will continue to work with employers, who I know have been facilitating this.”