Sign in. It’s quick, free and it’s up to you.
An account is an optional way to support the work we do. Find out more.
HEALTH MINISTER STEPHEN Donnelly has been told by health officials that there are two reasons that might explain why the Covid-19 case numbers are so high in Ireland when over 93% of the population is vaccinated.
Speaking to reporters this afternoon, the health minister said it is the question that many people, including himself, has been asking today.
“How are new cases high if our vaccine rate is so high? There are two reasons, which I’m being advised on. I’ve been asking exactly the same question,” he said.
“And part of it is the proximity to the UK, where the cases have consistently been very, very high. And obviously we have an awful lot of movement between the Republic and the UK.”
The second reason, he has been advised, is to do with the fact that the Delta variant arrived in Ireland a lot earlier than most of mainland Europe.
He said there is a “stickiness” in terms of the case levels, and explained that measures and vaccinations can stop the case rate going up to some degree.
But Donnelly claimed that it is more difficult to reduce case numbers to a level they were at previously.
The minister repeated comments by the Taoiseach earlier today that no decision has been made yet on the further easing of restrictions next week.
However, he did state that there has not been “any consideration of going backwards” in terms of re-introducing some restrictions.
Speaking at Government Buildings today, the Taoiseach would not be drawn on whether the use of the Covid pass to access the likes of pubs and restaurants would be extended beyond 22 October.
“I am not going to speculate what will transpire next week,” he said, stating that the government will discus this over next numbers of days before a decision is taken on Tuesday.
On 22 October, all remaining Covid-19 restrictions are scheduled to be lifted, including requirements for social distancing, indoor mask-wearing and limits on numbers at events.
The changes will herald the return of businesses like nightclubs.
It is also planned that entry requirements such as vaccination certs or testing will be removed but speaking today, Minister for Higher Education Simon Harris suggested that vaccine certs may remain when nightclubs reopen.
However, neither the Taoiseach or the Health Minister would confirm today if that was a matter under serious consideration.
Donnelly said that positivity rates for Covid-19 have been increasing “right across the country”.
“We’re seeing it in places that have consistently had very low levels like Kerry, for example,” he said, adding that even places like Waterford, which has one of the highest vaccine rates in Ireland, is seeing a rise in case incidence at the moment.
“The public health experts are concerned,” he said, stating they still don’t know if the recent rise is just a short term increase or the start of a longer trend.
In terms of the efficacy of the vaccine and how long immunity lasts, the minister said there are mixed reports as to the length of time.
He said NIAC will be ready to signal what their view is on a booster programme for the wider population shortly.
“The sooner we can get that information, the better,” he said. “If there is evidence of waning vaccinations, then that’s something we need to be ahead of.”
To embed this post, copy the code below on your site
The next general election will be tough too Joan…
They are not helping people get back to work.the only reason the number signing on is lower is because of emigration.i had to leave the country to find work leaving my wife and kids behind.thats one of the hardest things I have ever done or will do.those idiots in the dail sacrifice nothing.we the people take all the hits.
Too true.
“She said the level of social welfare abuse “is relatively low” but that in a budget of €20 billion, even 3 per cent of people abusing it amounts to millions of euro.”
Last week World Bank figures on remittances showed tha Nigerians in Ireland sent back 490 million euros to Nigeria – that’s 26,000 euros for each Nigerian man, woman and child in the State.
However, children are ineligible to work, so the figure is close to 40,000 euros.
But wait, Nigerians also have the highest rate of unemployment in the country than any other group – 45% (Lithuanians are second at 25%) – so the actual figure is more than 55,000 euros sent to Nigeria each year.
Most Nigerians are working in unskilled, low-paid jobs.
Monies sent from Ireland by foreign migrants are three times higher than the amount of money being sent home to Ireland by the Irish abroad.
World Bank statistics show that Irish people living in other countries sent more than $750 million (€560 million) back home in 2011, but foreign workers here sent remittances of $2.4 billion (€1.8 billion) home in the same year.
Wake up, Joan.
Quickly.
I think we’d all have a different outlook to these budgets if those writing them up took a significant pay cut and led by example. I’m talking knocking 80k a year off their wage slips.
Poor Joan, she hasn’t got a clue who is even writing the budget coz it sure isn’t noonan. Wonder if the furer over in Germany is telling her to give all these “exclusive” interviews with the journal?
Why oh why are you giving her airtime. Her village is missing her…..
Labour must finally be looking at the polls. Local elections coming up so they send out Joan the Moan to spew out her usual drivel.
Hell, if you throw enough mud at the wall some of it will stick, or as we’ve witnessed over the past couple of days, if Joan starts commenting on everything, then maybe we’ll actually believe some of this tripe.
At the last General Election I was foolish enough to believe your ‘bile’ & actually gave Joan my first preference vote, a mistake I can gladly say will never happen again. As soon as Labour got into bed with their counterparts in Government, they turned their backs on the very people who voted them in.
In saying that you have done one good thing whilst in power & I thank you for it.
Thank you Joan for showing me the error of my ways. Roll on 2016!!!
What a lot of hot air
Things won’t be tough in her house. An overpaid ministerial salary will make sure of that.
Tough experience Joan? Possibly you should try living as those who your decisions effect for a couple of months. Tough experience my arse. Silly minister.
The rich and wealthy won’t feel the pain, you can count on that!
“Hard decisions and trying to be fair’. .. Roll on the next elections .
.
Ah Aoife my morning was going so well until about 2min ago when I read the headline and then saw the sour frown on Burton.
Let them know how you’s all feel when the next election comes around
Clueless woman.
She is my third favourite Burton.
whats she moaning about sure the lads over in the european comission look after that for them now every body knows that , all you have to do joan is pretend that you have read it when they send it to you and your miserable party … lets be serious she’s not going to feck up her chances of jumping on the Mep gravy train to brussells by disagreeing with next years round of taxing the poor.. VOTE SF
Labour no answers, no solutions, a spent force thats passed it best before date.
Exactly! Hopefully they’ll go the same way the Greens did last time round
Bullshit they have…
She and her colleagues don’t know what tough means – muppets, all of them!
Not a tough experience for you, Joan, insulated as you are from a falling income (or no income) and constantly mounting taxes, levies and “charges”. The tough experience is for the generality of the population and you needn’t try and fool us into thinking you are agonizing over any of the “tough decisions”. How dare you? Your Government have had, admittedly little room for manoevre, but have consistently made the choices which would punish and disadvantage the ordinary working population – and the ‘vulnerable’ about whom you were so vocal in the general election campaign. If you think people are going to overlook that, you have another think coming.
All benefits should be slashed by 50%
Unless you have worked to pay into it
Personally if your long term unemployed 5 yrs or more you should be on side road cleaning in parks working cleaning beach
You should not get benefit for nothing
must be local elections coming up Joan THE MOAN, sure you dont have to worry about money, but dont forget the people dont forget the punishment labour imposed on its voters LIARS
some neck
have your say