Covid-19: No easing of restrictions expected until mid-September

A further 1,818 new cases of Covid-19 have been reported in the Republic while no further easing of restrictions is expected before mid-September as the Government is prioritising the return of schools and colleges.

As of 8am on Thursday, 244 patients were in hospital due to Covid-19 with 52 of those in ICUs. A total of 12,348 new cases of the virus have been reported in the State in the last seven days.

“We are experiencing a rapid rise in the incidence of the disease across the country ... This means that the virus is now circulating widely in our communities,” said chief medical officer Dr Tony Holohan.

“While the vaccine programme continues, we need to allow time for the levels of immunity in the community to increase. The risk of outbreaks in group settings, such as in workplaces or at social gatherings, can be minimised through strong adherence to social distancing, avoiding crowds, mask wearing and good hand hygiene.”

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The latest figures came as the Funke media group reported on Thursday that the German government plans to designate parts of Ireland as high-risk areas for Covid-19, meaning unvaccinated travellers arriving in Germany from those regions would need to go into quarantine for at least five days.

New roadmap

Earlier on Thursday, it was reported that the Government is hopeful of easing restrictions later in September after it publishes a roadmap for further reopening on August 31st.

With schools and universities set to reopen early in September, coalition sources said they were hopeful of removing further restrictions later in the month, but which restrictions are being considered for removal is not yet clear.

A meeting of the Cabinet subcommittee on Covid-19 took place on Thursday afternoon, as Coalition leaders met with public health teams to receive an update on the latest coronavirus situation as the Government prepares to move ahead with reopening schools and universities in the early part of next month.

The roadmap, which will examine how to deal with the next stage of the pandemic and through the winter, will be published following a series of meetings leading up to August 31st.

The National Public Health Emergency Team (Nphet) will next Wednesday before another subcommittee meeting on Friday of next week.

Government sources said the Coalition will likely look at further easing of restrictions later in September.

The subcommittee discussed the fact that Covid numbers are higher at the moment, with the reopening of indoor hospitality and other relaxations likely to be playing a role. The committee discussed how sectors can utilise antigen testing.

A new winter plan for the health service was also discussed, while the National Immunisation Advisory Committee (Niac) is set to continue its work on vaccine boosters over the coming weeks, as numbers at the vaccination centres begin to trail off from the middle of next month due to high numbers already vaccinated.

Speaking on RTÉ’s Six One on Thursday following a meeting to review Covid-19, Taoiseach Micheál Martin said: “The incidence [rate] is high in Ireland, very high relative to other European countries. And also the vaccination rate is very high … the overwhelming message from today’s meeting is that the vaccination [programme] is hugely impactful in giving protection, particularly two full doses.”

He said Ireland would be reopened on a phased, cautious basis and indoor hospitality was only reopened in late July.

“It is very frustrating for those in sectors like live entertainment and the arts, of course it is, I understand that, and indeed other sectors who want to get open again. But we did make it clear from early spring that as we reopen we don’t want to go backwards and we don’t want to close what we have reopened.”

Mr Martin said “very comprehensive” timelines will be given by Government next week, a guide to the next phase of reopening with some sectors benefitting “well before Christmas”.

“The Delta variant wave has not reached its peak yet. There is a very high incidence out there, that has an impact on our hospitalisation.”

Vaccine donations and walk-ins

Meanwhile, Ireland is to donate upwards of 300,000 non-mRNA vaccines overseas. The decision was approved in principle at Thursday’s meeting of the Cabinet subcommittee on Covid-19.

The donations are likely to be mainly AstraZeneca doses that are not needed for the Irish vaccine rollout. Ireland has opted in to purchase many millions of Covid-19 vaccines through agreements with the European Union.

This is likely to be the first of several significant donations of vaccines overseas, it is understood.

Additionally, the HSE has said it will be operating walk-in vaccination centres to allow people receive either their first or second doses of a Covid-19 vaccine.

The clinics will be open to anyone in Ireland aged 16 or older who are not yet vaccinated or who are still awaiting their second dose.

Additionally, the HSE will operate walk-in vaccination centre across the country over the coming days which will administer first and second doses of a Pfizer of Moderna jab.

The clinics will be open to anyone aged 16 and over who have yet to receive a first or second dose.

Registration can be done online or in person at the centres.

A county by county breakdown of the clinic times and locations can be found online at hse.ie.

Additional reporting: Reuters