“I don’t want people to think that there won’t be a time where we’ll need more restrictions, we will.”
Minister for Health Simon Harris has said that schools throughout the country may have to close and more public events will have to be cancelled in an effort to contain the spread of Covid-19 in Ireland.
Speaking on Prime Time on Tuesday night, Harris said that “in all likelihood” there would be more restrictions imposed on the public in the near future, but in the wake of government consultation with public health doctors on the matter, Harris stressed the need to get the timing right.
“I don’t want people to think that there won’t be a time where we’ll need more restrictions, we will,” Harris said.
“In all likelihood, there will be a time where we’ll have to cancel more events, there may be a time where we’ll have to close schools as well. We’ve already shown a willingness, whether it’s the St. Patrick’s Day parade or the rugby matches, to follow that public health advice and follow it to the letter.
“But it has to be about doing it in the right order, so people at home need to know that, as of now, we need you to take all of the measures you possibly can to keep well and keep your family well and particularly look out for vulnerable people in the community.”
Minister for Health Simon Harris discusses whether mass gatherings might need to be banned in an effort to curb the spread of Covid-19#RTEPT | @mcculld | @SimonHarrisTD | #COVID19 | #coronavirus pic.twitter.com/c7Q0eYTPPd
— RTÉ Prime Time (@RTE_PrimeTime) March 10, 2020
“There will in all likelihood be a point where we will have to bring in more restrictions, but we have got to get that timing right,” Harris added.
Harris’ comments came shortly after 10 new cases of Covid-19 were confirmed in the Republic of Ireland on Tuesday, the highest number in a single day to date, bringing the total number of confirmed cases to 34. Earlier in the day, the Department of Education said that schools unaffected by the outbreak of Covid-19 would remain open until further notice.
Schools, pre-schools and higher education settings have been provided with advice and guidance regarding the Covid-19 outbreak. People may access that database here.
Trinity College, meanwhile, confirmed that all lectures will be delivered online for the remainder of the semester, effective from Wednesday (11 March).
Responding to queries about mass gatherings in Ireland, meanwhile, particularly a string of concerts scheduled to take place in Dublin’s 3Arena, Harris said that the matter is being considered on a daily basis by the National Public Health Emergency team, who will be advising a cabinet committee on the matter on Friday.
“But it is likely, let’s be really blunt and honest with people, it is likely, if this virus continues to progress in Ireland, we will reach a point in time where a proportionate response will mean certain events will have to be cancelled,” Harris said.
General public health advice from the Department of Health is available here.
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