Threat’ from COVID-19 Variants
Ireland still faces a ‘very, very real-life threat’ from COVID-19 variants, the HSE CEO has warned.
Paul Reid says he appreciates many people need a break, but everyone has to make a “personal risk assessment” when it comes to international travel.
International travel is due to resume from mid-July when the Government implements the EU’s digital green cert programme.
The Chief Medical Officer Dr Tony Holohan has urged people not to travel anywhere unless they are fully vaccinated.
However, Tánaiste Leo Varadkar has claimed it would be unfair to tell younger people who haven’t been vaccinated yet that they can’t travel.
Speaking on Newstalk Breakfast, Mr Reid said this is not a normal summer.
He said: “If you look at what’s happening around the world… the UK has recently announced they’re going to keep the restrictions on overseas travel for now to protect against new variants, and Belgium has banned travel from the UK.
“I appreciate people need a break, but there is a personal risk assessment we all have to make.
“Some of the strongest advice [we gave to Government] was we just can’t let our health system go back to where we were in January. We’re still dealing with a very, very real-life threat from the Delta variant.”
He added that decisions around travel are ultimately a decision for Government.
Credit to : Newstalk