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The deputy chief medical officer said people must avoid crowded areas for at least the next six months in a blunt new warning from NPHET.
Speaking at last night’s briefing, Dr Ronan Glynn said many restrictions will need to remain in place until at least August in order to reduce cases of COVID.
He urged the public to wear face masks, alienate society and avoid poorly ventilated spaces for the foreseeable future.
He said: “Over the next few months what we want everyone to do is when they are on the move and interacting, to do it safely.
“I don’t see a scenario where we don’t ask people to wear masks, keep physical distance, avoid crowds, avoid poorly ventilated spaces over the next six months.”
Dr Glynn added that the idea of allowing vaccinated people to re-engage in society is under “active review”, but it will be a few weeks before advice is given.
“For now, we have to wait until everyone in these [healthcare] establishments, who want to be vaccinated, to be vaccinated.
“I know that the participation rate was very close to 100% in these establishments, but we are not there yet, we still have a few weeks left.
“They have to be vaccinated and we have to wait 7-14 days for them to get full protection, and on top of that we really have to see where we are going with the disease more generally.”
821 new cases were detected and no new deaths were reported last night – this was the first time this had happened since December 21.
There were 849 people in public hospitals with the virus, which is below the peak of the first wave for the first time since early January.
Things are looking up as the HSE also yesterday confirmed the locations of the country’s 37 vaccination centers.
There will be four centers in the capital – The Helix in DCU, Aviva Stadium, Citywest Convention Center and TU Dublin campus in Grangegorman.
Health Minister Stephen Donnelly said the centers would be ready for the start of the vaccination program this summer.
He said, “These centers will be ready well in advance of the vaccine supply when they are used in our program.
“People can expect to see these vaccination centers ready and waiting in their county.
“We have always said that the immunization program would only be limited by the availability and reliability of supply at these early stages of the program. In the coming months, the supply will increase significantly and we will see these centers operating at full capacity and administering vaccines to the general population, according to the government’s priority list.
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