Health chiefs are tracking a number of key indicators that will trigger the lifting of lockdown measures.
These are seven things that will have to happen before they will recommend easing restrictions.
1. Spread of the Virus
The number of deaths and new cases of the disease will need to fall to close to zero on a daily basis.
So far social distancing measures have reduced the growth rate from 33 percent a day to nine percent. That number needs to fall to close to zero.
2. The ‘R’ Number
This is the reproduction number or how many
people one person with the virus infects.
Before any restrictions were introduced this was 4.5.
The closure of schools reduced it to 2.7. The major March 27 lockdown has brought it close to one.
It needs to fall further to below 1 for the outbreak to be under control.
3. Intensive Care admissions
The first phase in the battle with Covid-19 has involved ensuring the health service is not over-run, particularly the vital ICU beds where the seriously ill are cared for.
Before the crisis Ireland had 312 ICU beds. Today there are 230 people in ICU. Hospitals are still building the capacity to handle a “surge” to 800 ICU patients if needed.
The daily numbers being admitted to ICU need to stay low for a numer of weeks before lockdown will end.
4. Testing rate
Health chiefs place a huge emphasis on testing. It is a vital part of quickly discovering new cases after lockdown ends to guard against a fresh outbreak.
We are currently at 2,000 tests a day.
The National Public Health Emergency Team wants to be conducting 15,000 tests a day before easing public restrictions.
5.Real Time testing
The timeframe from someone calling their doctor to report symptoms, to getting a swab done to receiving test results is currently seven to 10 days.
The NPHET wants to get that done in “real time” or under 48 hours.
6. Contact Tracing
Health officials want to have the capacity to trace all the immediate contacts of people who test positive in real time to lock down new outbreaks and clusters.
Mobile phone tracing apps may provide part of the solution, but the Chief Medical Officer said the old fashioned “shoe leather” approach will play the major role.
7. International experience
A number of other countries are ahead of Ireland in the progress of the virus and will ease their restrictions first.
The NPHET has said it will monitor the behaviour
of Covid-19 closely in those countries to decide when Ireland should follow suit.
