Taoiseach Says Return of COVID Restrictions Is Unjustified

Taoiseach Micheál Martin has dismissed the notion of reimposing Covid restrictions.

The Irish Nurses and Midwives Organisation and the Irish Association for Emergency Medicine have both urged the government to reintroduce pandemic measures amid a growing surge of cases.

Both organisations want to see a return of mandatory mask wearing in public spaces and working from home where possible.

Martin admitted that the high number of cases is currently putting pressure on the healthcare system but highlighted that while the BA2 variant is highly transmissible, it is not causing the same issues as previous variants.

He said that while mask wearing is no longer mandatory, the government still advises doing so.

Martin cited public health advice in the government's decision to dismiss the notion of reintroducing restrictions.

"Essentially, the current wave because it does not justify the return of economic restrictions, or the restrictions that we had in earlier phases of Covid-19," he said. "That's the fundamental advice in public health."

"This is a highly transmissible variant now, the BA2, much more transmissible than any variant we’ve witnessed before," he added. "Thankfully, it’s not as virulent or doesn’t appear to be damaging health to the same extent as earlier variants did. Not causing greater hospital admissions and ICU in particular remaining fairly stable. The view from public health is that this variant is so transmissible, that it’s almost impossible to stop transmission in relation to it."

"Hospitals are currently not safe for patients or for staff because of the level of overcrowding and Covid infection levels," said INMO general secretary Phil Ní Sheaghdha.