Covid-19 cases have begun to slow in many areas across Ireland as restrictions continue to ease and people start to see a glimpse of normal living making its return.
The same unfortunately can’t be said for the town of Buncrana in Donegal - the worst-affected region in Ireland at the moment with a 14-day incidence of 608.1 per 100,000 people.
According to Dr. Ciara Steele, a local GP in the town, there is major concern over the recent spike in cases between June 29 and July 2 and said "complacency is the enemy".
She has today urged people to stick to the current guidance issued by the government amid the threat of the Delta variant bringing a potential fourth wave.
"It's very difficult to understand. I think complacency is the enemy here, it's quite alarming to see the case numbers and the positivity rate”, she said.
“In the four days between June 29 to July 2, our own numbers have spiked. 56 test referrals we had, and 14 of those were positive. That's a rate of 20%. That is a major concern.
“I would urge people to consistently adhere to guidance and to follow the guidelines.”
Speaking about recent data on their case numbers and the danger of the Delta variant, Dr. Steele said; “Family outbreaks are still the highest spikes we have from the epidemiological data.
"Delta is twice as transmissible - when people are in social circumstances, the risk is higher.
“There's a reason that we are concerned. Delta has slightly milder symptoms, the likes of hay fever and sinusitis and this is very difficult for people to tell if it's the usual symptoms or if it's the Delta variant.
“I would ask people to get a PCR test if they have any symptoms.”
She went on to say the recent opening of a vaccination centre in Carndonagh was “welcomed greatly” by the community, but says “I think it'd be good to have a pop-up testing centre”.
“I feel local families don't always have transport and sometimes there's a delay in HSE transport in getting people to the centre in Letterkenny, which is 40km away.”
