An infectious diseases expert has called on the Government to accelerate its timeline for a ‘full Living with Covid’ plan despite high case numbers.
Professor Jack Lambert criticised the ongoing ‘delay’ in planning for a return to normal but said he expects certain restrictions - like mask-wearing - to remain in place for some time.
He says although cases are rife at the moment, officials need to begin putting steps in place for a long-awaited return to normal life to avoid further collateral damage to Irish society.
"Covid is serious - I’m not downplaying that. I take care of patients in the ICU", he said.
"But I think there is a lot of collateral damage.
"We do need a plan, and we can’t just keep delaying - delaying is not a plan, and lockdown is not a plan.
"Lockdown and delaying, to me, shows a lack of a plan for living with COVID."
Although Government is getting ready to publish a roadmap by the end of the month, which will lay out details on the next phase of easing, Dr Tony Holohan issued a warning to the public over the weekend as cases remain up around 2,000.
"We haven’t seen this number of cases since late January 2021", he warned.
"This is a concerning indication of the level of COVID-19 circulating in our communities.
"While it is possible for fully vaccinated individuals to become infected with COVID-19 and pass the virus on to others, vaccines also remain effective in significantly reducing this risk.
"That is why it is vital for as many people as possible to come forward for vaccination against this disease.
"We must all remain vigilant to the risk of contracting COVID-19."
Professor Lambert’s latest plea to the Government comes days after he said planning and thinking for life beyond vaccinations and restrictions is now vital.
"Let's just start planning for booster vaccinations, let's start planning for modifications of our lifestyle and safe environments", he told Newstalk.
"A lot of the facilities we have are not ventilated properly from schools to pubs.
"People continue to let their guard down, but we also need to keep on with hand washing, and mask-wearing etc."
