“I’m saying to people: ‘Wait until we give a comprehensive announcement early next week in relation to what will happen after 5 April’.”
Taoiseach Micheál Martin has said that Ireland’s Covid-19 vaccine rollout will “ramp-up significantly” in the second quarter of 2021.
His comments come as there is uncertainty as to how much current Covid-19 restrictions will be eased on 5 April.
Previously, the Government had stated that any easing of restrictions on the date would be “quite limited”, with the construction sector potentially returning to work, the 5km travel limit possibly being relaxed and more outdoor activities, such as sports training, perhaps being permitted.
However, as Covid-19 case numbers have remained static in recent weeks around 500 to 600 per day, the likelihood of even those modest restrictions has been thrown into doubt.
Asked about this on RTÉ’s News at One, The Taoiseach responded: “There’s a number of factors which is why I’m saying to people: ‘Wait until we give a comprehensive announcement early next week in relation to what will happen after 5 April’.”
He added that the impact of the Covid-19 vaccination programme to date will be taken into account when considering easing restrictions.
The Taoiseach explained: “The evidence so far is that it is having a significant impact on the spread of the virus but more importantly on mortality amongst the cohorts that have been vaccinated and on severe illness.”
Asked when the jab rollout will be increased, Martin replied: “In the second quarter it will ramp-up significantly in terms of the vaccine supply that we have been promised, that has been negotiated.”
He stated plans for all over-70s to have received their first vaccine before mid-April and be fully vaccinated by mid-May remain on target, calling it “a significant enough milestone in terms of severe illness and mortality”.
He added: “We’re going to factor that in to how we look at the post-5 April scenario.
“It’s different to what we would have done in previous situations.”
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