Health Minister Stephen Donnelly has warned that serious new restrictions would be required to contain the latest highly transmissible BA.2 Covid-19 variant.
Speaking to Fianna Fáil members on Monday night, Minister Donnelly said the true number of Covid-19 cases in the community is likely to be several hundred thousand cases, according to sources at the online meeting.
Minister Donnelly told the meeting that the current transmissibility of the variant meant that extremely restrictive measures would be needed but the Chief Medical Officer, Dr Tony Holohan has not advised such restrictions at this time.
READ MORE: Government concerned about surging cases but not planning to bring back restrictions
A source said: "He was clear that Holohan hadn't recommended bringing back any restrictions."
Sources said Minister Donnelly told how the sub-variant is highly transmissible and “very contagious".
He said the measures that would be needed to get this surge under control or to radically reduce the spread would be “quite serious measures".
Although there has been a scaling back of testing in recent weeks, it’s understood Minister Donnelly said his Department and the HSE are working on a medium term plan to scale up testing, tracing and vaccination if a serious variant of concern arrives.
It comes as the Emergency Department Taskforce is to request that public health measures are reconsidered by the Government.
The taskforce includes representatives of hospital groups, the Department of Health, patient advocates, staff bodies and the HSE.
Following a meeting on Monday, it was agreed that a letter would be sent calling on Minister Donnelly to consider the current public health advice around restrictions.
READ MORE: Hospitals not safe for patients or staff, INMO warns
