One of Ireland's top health officials has warned that it's likely a new, more infectious strain of Covid-19 has arrived in Ireland amid a surge in cases that's "beyond the worst predictions" of the Government.
Dr Colm Henry, the chief clinical officer of the HSE, said anyone who came to Ireland from England, Scotland or Wales after December 11 should eat Christmas dinner in their room.
His comments come as Ireland battles an "extraordinary" rise in infections over the last week – a factor that saw a third lockdown imposed by the Government yesterday.
Dr Henry said the advice to these travellers – which was previously to restrict movements for 14 days – has now been upped to a requirement to self-isolate for the full 14 days.
This, he said, means people must stay "in their rooms at all times" except for absolutely "essential purposes.
"We know how painful this is for people who have waited so long to come home," he said.
But he added that it was necessary in order to "ensure that you are not the agent of transmission of this new strain."
And he said it's safe to assume that the mutant strain of the virus – first discovered in the south of England – is already here, given the "extraordinary growth in the transmission of the virus, beyond the worst predictions" of public health chiefs.
There has been an increase in infections across all age groups, he said, adding that it's inevitable that the virus will spread from younger people to those in older age groups, hospital settings and nursing homes where it can "cause havoc, disease and worse."
Yesterday, the Taoiseach told the country that new measures – Level Five with some modifications – are necessary due to the rapid increase in case numbers over recent weeks.
And Tanaiste Leo Varadkar added that we're likely to be in lockdown for the next two months.
