The HSE has rejected claims from one of its doctors that Covid-19 is "much less severe" than the average flu and that the Government's current measures aren't justified.
Dr Martin Feeley claimed that people at low risk of catching the deadly bug should be exposed to it in order to develop herd immunity.
He also claimed in the Irish Times interview that current Government measures to tackle the virus are 'draconian' and no longer needed.
He did however, say that the lockdown measures originally introduced were correct.
In a statement this afternoon, the HSE moved to reject and dissociate itself from Dr Feeley's comments.
Chief Clinical Officer Dr Colm Henry said: “For the avoidance of any doubt, the position as stated by Dr Feeley in the Irish Times today is not the position of the HSE on this important subject.”
According to figures from the World Health Organisation, over 28 million people have gotten the virus, while over 900,000 people have died across the globe.
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