A surge in coronavirus cases in Ireland is 'inevitable' as restrictions are eased, a top doctor has warned.
Microbial diseases expert Professor Paddy Mallon told a Special Oireachtas Committee this morning that he believes a resurgence in the virus is bound to happen as Ireland emerges from lockdown.
Professor Mallon also cited tourism and travel as a possible cause of a future spike in cases.
He said: "What countries that Ireland is in the position of around the world have done with resurgence of cases - the majority of the resurgence is occurring because new infections are being introduced into the country either through people travelling into the country or through the movement of goods.
"The importance of containing infections at borders become higher as levels of community transmission drop off.
"So from the policy maker perspective, if you want to maintain community transmission at a level that is minimum, it is important you have robust screening methods at the point of entry into the country.
"What they are is open for debate - you could screen everyone or judge your screening and restrictions on the epidemiological of the outbreak of the country the person is coming from.
"Someone coming from New Zealand compared to someone from Texas - the risk assessments would be very different."
He added however: "I believe that the opening up that's happening at the moment is being undertaken generally responsibly because we have good data on community transmission."
His comments come following the news that holiday air bridges are to be established which would allow Irish tourists to travel to certain countries around Europe.
With travel seen as a big risk in terms of spreading the virus - EU countries hope to allow a flow between countries with similar coronavirus records.
Transport Minister Shane Ross has said the Government is looking into the idea but which countries Ireland will link up with has not yet been decided.
HSE chief clinical officer Dr Colm Henry said he would be concerned about people travelling into Ireland from other countries.
Dr Henry told the committee: "It is far too soon for us to forget how transmissible this virus is.
"Events in Houston, Melbourne, Germany and certain US states remind us the poor social measures and rapid easing of social restrictions - we see rapid community transmission that is very hard to bring under control.
"There would be concerns about people coming from areas of high impact - particularly in a Covid-19 environment. Unfortunately we have to treat everyone as if they potentially have Covid-19 given the uncertainty that pertains right across Europe."
Asked if there are sufficient measures in place to ensure people who come into the country self-isolate for 14 days, he said: "It is up to individuals to comply with the advice that has been out since March.
"We haven't a system where we track and trace every single individual who comes into our country."
