The Cabinet Committee on Covid-19 met this morning to review disease progression and roll out of the vaccination programme.
Disease
Disease incidence remains high and is continuing to increase, particularly in younger age cohorts, with a 7 day average of around 1,300. The Cabinet Committee was informed of 1,782 cases today.
The trajectory remains very uncertain. Disease profile varies across counties, with Donegal, Louth and Galway showing very high incidence rates.
While incidence of serious illness and hospitalisations is lower than previous waves, the total number of confirmed cases of COVID-19 in hospital is steadily increasing, with 193 in hospital and 28 in ICU, as of this morning.
The public health advice remains that those who are not fully vaccinated should avoid high risk environments and activities. To protect the progress made Government urges people to continue to exercise caution and to practice all good public health behaviours – social distancing, face masks where appropriate, handwashing and respiratory etiquette.
The national testing, tracing and isolation service continues to operate effectively.
There were 385,000 community tests conducted in July 2021, which is among the highest levels of testing since the start of the pandemic. In total, the Irish testing programme has completed over 6 million tests to date. Testing capacity remains satisfactory, with additional surge capacity available if required.
Vaccination Programme
The Vaccination Programme continues to make significant progress with over 6 million vaccine doses now administered, comprising almost 3.2 million first doses and over 2.85 million people fully vaccinated.
The level of uptake across all age groups in Ireland is high by international comparisons. Nearly 85% of people aged 16 and over have either registered or received at least one dose of vaccine.
Walk-in centres opened at locations around the country last weekend and all saw very high demand with over 30,000 people attending for first dose vaccinations.
Walk in centres will operate again this weekend at various locations (see HSE.ie).
Vaccination offers a significant level of protection from Covid-19 for individuals and the population as a whole.
The effectiveness of vaccination is now clearly apparent in the lower levels of severe disease, hospitalisations, ICU admissions and mortality during the current wave.
There are now a number of options available to receive a vaccine and protect ourselves and those around us. Government continues to urge those eligible for a vaccine to register for an appointment or attend a walk-in clinic.
Roadmap for the Next Phase
Government continued to ease restrictions in a careful manner through July. To date, easing of public health measures has focused on outdoor activities and a partial re-opening of indoor hospitality.
The Government understands the frustration felt by those sectors of the economy and society that remain severely restricted or fully closed. It is important to stress that these continued restrictions are based on public health advice.
That is why remaining restrictions and closures relate mainly to indoor activities and to live events and mass gatherings. For example, large gatherings and crowds that involve socialisation, including consumption of alcohol which reduces inhibitions, have all been shown to aid the spread of the Covid-19 disease.
Building on the success of the national vaccination programme and public health response to date, the next phase of the Government’s response will involve a clear road map for the sustainable re-opening of activities in the live entertainment, culture and arts sectors. It will also include the sustainable reopening of offices and other indoor activities. As with every other re-opening, the Government’s objective is that once a sector re-opens, there should be no going back.
In advance of an announcement on the road map, the relevant Departments and State agencies will continue to engage intensively with representatives of those who are impacted by the current restrictions so that the relevant guidance and communications can be agreed and implemented quickly once a decision is made to modify or remove restrictions.
The Government has also noted the concerns expressed by church leaders about the public health guidance relating to religious ceremonies, and especially communions and confirmations. It hopes to see those restrictions lifted in September, subject to the public health situation at that time. The Government will engage further with relevant faith group leaders in the coming weeks.
The road out of these remaining restrictions lies through a combination of:
- maintaining the current level of restrictions during August until this wave of the disease falls
- continuing the very successful national vaccination programme – especially with younger people
- continuing to implement effective public health measures such as testing and tracing, self-isolation, infection protection and control and booster vaccinations.
The Government will continue to monitor the progress of the disease and of the vaccination programme during August. It will also continue to receive and consider public health advice from the National Public Health Emergency Team.
Based on those considerations, by the end of August, the Government will publish a road map for the easing or removal of the remaining restrictions.
Economic Recovery & Supports
The Economic Recovery Plan provides clarity on supports and charts a course to help people get back to work. The numbers of people on the Pandemic Unemployment Payment (PUP) are now at the lowest level since the pandemic started. A range of employment supports are available for PUP recipients as part of Pathways to Work strategy (www.gov.ie/pathways).
ENDS