We need your help now
Support from readers like you keeps The Journal open.
You are visiting us because we have something you value. Independent, unbiased news that tells the truth. Advertising revenue goes some way to support our mission, but this year it has not been enough.
If you've seen value in our reporting, please contribute what you can, so we can continue to produce accurate and meaningful journalism. For everyone who needs it.
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.
By continuing, you are indicating that you accept our Terms of Service and Privacy Policy.
TÁNAISTE LEO VARADKAR has said that he does not expect the Government will need to impose restrictions over the winter, despite a rise in Covid-19 cases in Ireland and across Europe.
Speaking to reporters this morning, Varadkar said that the Government expects to be able to manage the increase in case numbers and that there will be additional supports provided to the health system.
“This, in many ways, is the first normal winter, dare I call it that, since the pandemic, and therefore we expect it to be very busy, given the fact that Covid cases are rising again and also there’s a flu season expected,” said Varadkar.
“We’ll be giving a lot of support to the Minister for Health and HSE to minimise the disruption and overcrowding and our hospitals over the winter.”
This support will come through the latest HSE Winter Plan, which Health Minister Stephen Donnelly brought to Cabinet this morning.
He said that the new Chief Medical Officer, Dr Breda Smyth, had provided a briefing yesterday on the current epidemiological situation.
“It does appear that we are now seeing Covid cases rising again in Ireland, and indeed, across Europe, but we would expect to be able to manage that without having to impose any new restrictions on people,” Varadkar added.
However, he did encourage people to wear masks while in crowded situations and called on people to get their Covid-19 booster vaccine.
Regarding mask-wearing, it’s understood that there are no plans to introduce mandated mask-wearing at present. However, it is understood that if mask mandates are to be introduced in certain settings, there would be an assessment process with a number of indicators being looked at.
“Obviously we hope things will remain relatively calm with Covid, but we can’t plan on that basis, said the Health Minister Stephen Donnelly this morning, speaking to reporters. “We’ve seen a very significant increase in Covid hospitalisations over the last week – only 40% of them are in hospital with Covid, however ever one of them that is in hospital with Covid, they need to be cared for obviously, but there are also knock-on effects with infection prevention and control measures.”
He said that the conversation with Cabinet would be about how they know Ireland is facing into a difficult winter, so it has a big focus on investment and recruitment for emergency departments, and a focus on living with Covid.
It comes as Donnelly also brought new plans to manage Covid-19 over the winter, with a new Covid-19 advisory group being established to examine how best to contain the virus over the next several months.
To embed this post, copy the code below on your site
Only because he knows nobody will tolerate the reimposition of restrictions
@Maria Hickey-Fagan: yYou’re dead right, look at the fallout lockdowns are having on inflation which is a long way from finished yet. Lockdowns affecting and will affect more than covid ever did…
@Declan Doyle: really? A certain war currently ongoing has nothing to do with it? You know, the one driving up the prices of electricity and causing an energy crisis…….something that to my knowledge the lockdowns never did.
Good idea to get going on a winter strategy…almost midway through October. Donnelly on the ball.
@alan: Eh, they’ve published the plan? That’s well beyond strategy
@alan: C’mon, what evidence of proactivity have we seen from this gov’t, they spend all their time chasing their tails. There are certain areas where we should err on the side of caution yet when it comes to Covid.
His plan to treat Long-COVID is to ignore it and hope it goes away by itself.
Imagine getting away with that in any other profession.
@Crow: imagine still going on about long covid
@Conor King: you would be ‘still going on about it’ if you were totally debilitated by it.
Imagine belittling sick people because you want to deny reality. Back to you QAnon mates there like a good lad.
@Crow: like they did with covid initially
Journal deletes documentary from the UK, that available on most platforms so the one sided narrative continues. Well done Journal.
@Stephen Grehan: and nobody even got to call you a conspiracy theorist
@Stephen Grehan: thumbs up for trying
@SquintEastwood: Safe and Effective: A Second Opinion
@SquintEastwood: Well done i was afraid to mention it as i suspect that comment would also be deleted. Perhaps the Journalist Tadgh McNally would care to explain why it was deleted when most platforms are showing this now, when up until a few weeks ago would have taken it down.
I’m fully vaxxed, have had it twice and the second time was a whole lot easier.
My father in law has just had it for the third time and had little more than a sore throat.
I’ll get the fku & covid jab and continue on.
We really need to stop going on about it at this point and just get on with life.
@Sequoia: You tell everyone to not talk about it meanwhile you’re talking about it? Thanks for giving us your father in laws life story
@Tom Jacob:
My opinion & thoughts are vitally important round here.
Didn’t you get the memo? I’m kind of a big deal.
Have an awesome day.
@Sequoia: I thought at first you said, “I’m fully waxed….”
Agree with your post, I think the gov’t have exhausted their money orchard.
1 in 40 had the virus last week in Northern Ireland. I’d imagine its similar here.
@Celtic Eagle: exactly, case numbers rising quickly in the UK, but sure let’s not talk about it in Ireland and hope it goes away
@Ian James Burgess: Ya gman because talking about it will make it go away. Does every comment you make about it reduce cases by 1 or what? If you’re so afraid of Covid then stay in your room all day lol
@Celtic Eagle: I dont believe thats true unless you can back that up!……. In the whole of the UK there was 62.4k new cases reported in the week to the 6th of October (From Our World In Data)….. 1 in 40 of population of 1.9 million in the north is around 47.5k people. By what your saying most of the cases in the while of the UK just happen to be in the north……… Then when you say you imagine its the same here that equates to around 125k cases here in a week?!?! Laughable!…… Officially its 2.4k here in the week to 5th of Oct.
Google it, I cant post links.
@Celtic Eagle: I did. In the last 7 days there was 1,819 cases in the north. Far from 1 in 40 in a population of 1.9million or 47.5k!……. Funny how you can make up stuff and not back it up with links but I can post links…… Link to the NI covid dashboard…… Some dose of fake news out of you!
@Celtic Eagle: just over 1 in 1,000 FYI
Hospital numbers here have risen by approx 100 over the last week and the percentage of positive tests by 4%. Thankfully icu numbers haven’t risen. It was 11 last night which is down a couple from this time last month. Vaccines are still important though. The UK are still averaging around 300 covid related deaths per week. Of course they didn’t have the same uptake in vaccines among the older population that we had, especially in ethnic groups. I get my 2nd booster tomorrow and I’m dreading it. Have had reactions to all my shots so far. But needs must.
@Gearóid MacEachaidh: No one cares
@Tom Jacob: well clearly you do
@Gearóid MacEachaidh: he’s a half wit, pay no attention.
Good idea to get going on a winter strategy…almost midway through October. Donnelly on the ball.j
@alan: Shrup
Good god, sounds like they will only make masks mandatory in certain situations, if it happens, though I’m not holding my breath. Similar to 2020, how they mandated masks in shops and on public transport before other places like covid can’t spread in other areas outside of shops/public transport/healthcare.
Well those of us who are willing to be vaxed are better protected and those who don’t want it can take their own chances, as long as when they do catch it, they have the cop on to stay away from others.
BTW, before anyone mentions it, those who contract it and are vaxed, already show that they have that cop on seeing as they got vaxed in the first place!
have your say