NPHET’s warned the government the risk of a fourth wave of covid infection in the coming weeks is very high, if public health measures are relaxed too quickly.
In a letter to the Health Minister Stephen Donnelly, ahead of the government decision on easing restrictions, it says there is a critical window over the next eight weeks.
Public Health officials believe a significant increase in close contacts is likely to lead to an additional wave of infection, in the range of that experienced in October last year or in January this year.
The advice prompted a very limited relaxation of rule, which was announced last evening.
Last night the Taoiseach announced the roadmap out of some restrictions over the next couple of months.
Among the measures, people will be allowed to travel anywhere in their county or 20km from their home across a county border from April 12th, but Ministers were told yesterday it could be July before inter-county travel is allowed again.
Clare Fianna Fail Senator believes that’s way too long, especially for people who have elderly parents in other parts of the country who they haven’t seen since Christmas or longer.
Timmy Dooley believes allowances should be made in these circumstances, with protections then in place to prevent beauty spots from being overrun with visitors
Click and collect services for non-essential retailers won’t return until May.
Ennis-based lobby group Retail Excellence says the decision is damaging for the sector, and not proportionate to the threat posed by the virus.
There are currently around 70,00 retail workers claming the PUP and Managing Director of Retail Excellence, Duncan Graham believes many won’t return to work as the industry faces into a grim future.
Construction workers in the region are calling for more certainty on when they’ll be allowed to return to work.
All house-building work can resume on April 12th, along with early learning and childcare projects, but 47,000 construction staff involved in other projects across the country will still be out of work.
The full re-opening of construction activity is due to go ahead from May, but the CIF’s Southern Region Director, Conor O’Connell says they believe they’ve already proven the industry is capable of working safely.
He believes the delay in re-opening the sector will have a big impact on supply.
