Ireland’s top public health experts have called for a new information campaign following a surge in Covid cases.
Professors Luke O’Neill and Anthony Staines believe another public information drive is needed to remind people that the virus hasn’t gone away.
The pair spoke to the Irish Mirror after new figures showed the number of patients with the virus in hospital is the highest it’s been since the restrictions were lifted in January.
Almost 20,000 cases were recorded last weekend, while 11,682 were diagnosed positive yesterday alone.
There are currently 877 Covid patients in hospital and 41 in ICU.
Mr Staines, a professor of health systems at DCU, said: “People want this to be over, but it isn’t.”
Immunologist Mr O’Neill added: “The increase in cases is to be expected given the relaxation in rules.
“Decreased mask-wearing and people not isolating when positive – combined with people with symptoms not doing antigen tests and then not isolating.
“Another public information campaign is needed to remind people.”
Prof Staines said we don’t exactly know what is causing the uptick.
He explained: “There are reports around the world of slightly amended versions of Omicron affecting different countries.
“But we do so little sequencing in Ireland that we don’t know if that’s a factor.
“Hospital numbers are definitely going up, reported case numbers are going up. That could be a couple of things –nobody really knows.
“Some are suggesting the boosters from last year are beginning to wane and people are getting infected again.
“Some say it’s that we’re not wearing masks anymore. As with a lot of things in life, it’s probably more than one thing.”
He believes a “safe” form of herd immunity is national pandemic policy now, adding: “It’s clearly the policy – the Government hasn’t said that.
“It’s something they are not willing to admit in public.”
But he believes the removal of masks in schools must be “to encourage herd immunity”, adding: “Many people in public health think this is a relatively high-risk and relatively dangerous policy, as we learn more about this virus.
“There are a lot of people getting systematically ill with Covid and the effects are long lasting for a significant portion of people.”
He pointed to a brain study in the UK last week that showed the virus can shrink the organ and damage its tissue, adding: “We know the risk of heart disease and stroke goes up after Covid.”
