Lockdown Ireland: NPHET member says when daily cases will drop below 100 and predicts 'outdoor summer'

Ireland's daily case numbers are on track to drop below 100 in late April, according to NPHET member Professor Philip Nolan.

Speaking on RTE's News at One, the expert said that the country is "essentially dealing with a new virus" with the UK variant.

The professor said that the reopening of society will have to be taken "step by step" and it was hard to put any dates on when certain things will open.

Prof. Nolan also said that Ireland is looking at an "outdoor summer" as the country works towards vaccinating the adult population.

Professor Nolan said: "It is very hard to tell(when we will get to below 100 cases a day).

Professor Philip Nolan said hailed Ireland's 'extraordinary performance' over recent weeks (Collins)

"We're still making progress, it has slowed, mainly because of the dominant variant."

"We are on track to reach below 100 cases at some point in April.

"It is going to take time."

As we move towards summer, the Professor said that "we are looking at an outdoor summer, where we socialise outdoors as much as we can" and "where we holiday and recreate at home".

The likes of retail and construction, which are seen as lower risk, could reopen in the coming months while Nolan also said the "vaccination period brings enormous hope".

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