Ireland will face a “continuous threat” of coronavirus for up to three and a half years.
But we shouldn’t have to see another complete lockdown to keep the virus from taking hold again.
The World Health Organisation’s Special Envoy on Covid-19, David Nabarro, was giving his expert opinion to TDs at the Oireachtas Covid Committee this morning.
He said: “There will be seasonality with this (the virus), but it’s not like the flu.
“The way I describe it is that there will be a continuous threat.
“And it’s possible that it will be two and a half to three and a half years before everyone can get a vaccine.”
Mr Nabarro believes the Irish Government has done well in suppressing the virus so far by introducing a lockdown, but he doesn’t believe we need to be so draconian again.
He said: “I would be surprised if you have to move into a lockdown like you’ve had again,” and he added: “Total lockdown again is highly unlikely.”
Mr Nabarro is one of the world’s leading experts on the spread of the deadly virus that has crippled the world’s economies and societies.
He said that the evidence he has reviewed shows that coronavirus will be with us until a vaccine is widespread.
Mr Nabarro estimates that this will take between two and a half to three and a half years.
