Further easing of Covid-19 measures may not be far away says Holohan

Chief medical officer Dr Tony Holohan has raised the prospect of a further easing of coronavirus restrictions, saying such steps “may not be far away” as vaccinations increase in coming weeks.

At a press conference on Wednesday, Dr Holohan said health officials were examining the criteria that should be met before easing some of the remaining measures. He suggested the National Public Health Emergency Team (Nphet) will consider the matter next week, saying any recommendations would be made “at some point after that” to Minister for Health Stephen Donnelly.

“In broad terms given the progress we’re making in vaccination notwithstanding where we are at in terms of the disease we might in coming weeks be in a situation where we’re able to . . . move away from some of the restrictions,” he told reporters.

“What are the things we would move on and what are the things that we think might need to stay place? Those are the things we’re giving consideration to,” he said.

“While the range of things that are in place now is a lot less than the range of things that were in place back during what was referred to as the lockdown, there’s still quite an amount of restriction in place.”

Dr Holohan was speaking as Nphet reported 1,408 new Covid-19 infections, with 152 patients in hospital and 26 of them in intensive care.

“We’re coming close, let’s say, to the autumn time, starting to think about the resumption of winter activities, obviously things like college and school,” he said.

“We’re looking at essentially what are the kind of criteria that need to be satisfied that would enable us to advise when we think it’s appropriate and safe [to ease measures]. It’s more about achieving those criteria rather than a specific time period or a date. But if we keep progress going in terms of vaccination that may not be far away.”

Hospitalised

In a statement accompanying Wednesday’s coronavirus figures, chief medical officer Dr Tony Holohan said 2 per cent of cases are being hospitalised.

“We know that we would be experiencing many more cases and hospitalisations were it not for the great progress being made in taking up vaccination. We need to keep this up as we move to vaccinate the remaining, mostly younger, cohorts of our population,” he said.

“The more people vaccinated in this country, the less opportunity Covid-19 has to inflict severe illness and disruption on us. If you are eligible for a Covid-19 vaccination and have yet to register, please do so as soon as possible.”

Deputy chief medical officer Ronan Glynn said vaccination is having a very positive impact on the risk profile of Covid-19 in Ireland.

“As more people get fully vaccinated we can expect to see a higher proportion of cases in fully vaccinated people,” said Dr Glynn.

“This does not mean that vaccines are not working and, for those who have been fully vaccinated, their risk of severe illness or hospitalisation as result of Covid-19 is much lower than if they had not been vaccinated.”

Dr Glynn said it was vital that as many people as possible take the opportunity to get vaccinated in the weeks ahead, and that vaccination walk-in centres will open this weekend.

Prof Philip Nolan, Chair of the Nphet Irish Epidemiological Modelling Advisory Group, said the median age of the cases being reported on Wednesday is 24 years, and warned that the prevalence of the Delta variant meant unvaccinated people remained at high risk of contracting the disease.

Dr Cillian De Gascun, Medical Virologist and Director of the National Virus Reference Laboratory, said more than 90 per cent of all cases are now caused by the more transmissible Delta variant.

Prof Karina Butler, chair of the National Immunisation Advisory Committee, said the committee had examined and recommended the use of mRNA vaccines for people aged 12-15. “Clinical trials estimated efficacy of both the Pfizer and Moderna vaccines as 100% in these age groups, making them extremely effective in preventing infection in this age cohort,” said Prof Butler.

“I would strongly encourage those aged 12-15 years of age with underlying medical conditions, those living with a younger child with complex medical needs, or with an immunocompromised adult to accept vaccination as soon as it is offered.”

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