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Holohan: 'No contemplation at this point' for extra COVID measures

Some 3,174 new cases of the virus were confirmed here on Wednesday
Jack Quann
Jack Quann

17.53 3 Nov 2021


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Holohan: 'No contemplation at...

Holohan: 'No contemplation at this point' for extra COVID measures

Jack Quann
Jack Quann

17.53 3 Nov 2021


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The Chief Medical Officer Dr Tony Holohan says a 'circuit breaker' lockdown is not being considered to control rising COVID-19 cases.

NPHET says the level of socialisation is now at the highest level since the pandemic began, and is urging people to "dial it down".

On Wednesday 3,174 new cases of the virus were confirmed here, with 56 related deaths over the last week.

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It is the second day in a row the number of new cases has been more than 3,000.

While the five-day moving average of cases is 2,937 - an increase of nearly 1,000 compared to this day last week.

But Dr Holohan says he does not believe more restrictions are currently needed.

"That's not a discussion we're having.

"We know that the measures that we're recommending - focused as we are on individual's behaviour... and adherence to the public health messaging... across all the sectors, making the environments in which people will spend time - particularly indoor environments - as safe as they reasonably can be.

He says Amárach data from the hospitality sector, suggesting one on four people are not being asked for their COVID Cert, needs to turn around.

"These are the kinds of basic measures we want to see, and we want to encourage people to do that right thing."

He says this is particularly the case for those in leadership roles.

"That they would encourage people, and demonstrate through their adherence in the environments that they create for individuals, a commitment to the spirit of the guidance that's there.

"So through an improvement in our collective adherence - and an improvement in the kind of environments in which we're spending time - and each of us being more mindful of how we plan and our social contacts and managing that in a way that limits the risk of transmission.

"These are the kinds of measures that we think can be successful."

But he adds that they are not considering any further measures at the moment.

"We're not giving contemplation at this point in time to additional and wider measures.

"The reality is the economic and social restrictions that were in place... in a way took the discretion away from individuals about what it is they might do".

Citing a pub as an example, he explains: "If the pub is closed, the decision is made for you about whether you go to the pub.

"The pub is now open and you can make that decision; but whether you go there and your behaviour in preparation for going there... we want to see people using these as safely as we possibly can".

He also emphasised anyone with symptoms needs to stay home, contact their GP and arrange for a COVID-19 test.

Main image: Dr Tony Holohan, Chief Medical Officer, at a coronavirus press briefing in the Department of Health. Picture by: Leah Farrell / RollingNews.ie

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