Dr Kim Roberts, lecturer in Virology at Trinity College Dublin and influenza virus researcher, has expressed her concern about reopening indoor pubs and restaurants in July
The expert was asked about the rise in the delta variant and what damage it could do as it slowly takes a grip in Ireland - similar to how it did in the UK.
Speaking on RTE's Morning Ireland, Dr Roberts said: "The variant was first observed in India and then it was detected in the UK - and they are at the forefront of sequencing and understanding these new variants. They detected it was rising rapidly and that it has several mutations - making it more transmissible.
"There are reports where transmission events have been described as 'very brief' exposures, literally seconds. In a lot of those cases, there's been an absence of mask-wearing so I strongly encourage the wearing of those masks.
"There is an increased chance of people needing to be hospitalised as a result of this variant so we have to be careful."
Dr Roberts also registered her worries about the next step of reopening for Ireland, which comes in less than two weeks on July 5 as the majority of indoor services resume.
This could be a big danger, warned Dr Roberts, saying "I am very worried about the easing of restrictions with indoor services in pubs. Especially because we haven't had any increase in awareness or messaging about the important of ventilation of indoor stations.
"The Delta variant could lead to big outbreaks in indoor spaces. People need to prepare that there might be changes to the easing of restrictions. That's to maintain the transmission intervention - it's to keep people safe."
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