Lifting of restrictions unlikely as health experts voice concern over containment

With the return of Garda checkpoints to our roads this week and into the May Bank Holiday weekend and the stark statistic that we are about to surpass 20,000 confirmed cases of Covid-19, there seems little chance restrictions on travel and movement are about to be significantly lifted.

Yesterday (Monday) the Health Protection Surveillance Centre confirmed a further 18 people had died bringing the death toll from Covid-19 to 1,102.

In Meath there are 636 confirmed cases of Covid-19 representing 3.3 per cent of the national total. As of yesterday the HPSC had registered 19,648 confirmed cases.

With people looking to the 6th May and the original date for easing restrictions, Dr. Tony Holohan, Chief Medical Officer at the Department of Health tempered expectations.

“We have always made it clear that there are certain things that we need to be satisfied with prior to recommending any change in current restrictions.

“The most important one is that the incidence rate of the virus needs to be as low as possible in terms its transmission in the community and within community and residential settings. In addition, the impact of the disease on rates of mortality and hospitalisations including admissions to intensive care units also needs to be at a very low level.

“Improvements are still needed in these important measures.”

Meanwhile, Gardai today launched the continuation of its major operation to ensure public compliance with the travel restrictions introduced as part of Covid-19 public health guidelines.

Operation Fanacht will once again see an extensive network of checkpoints established across the country running from 7am on Tuesday, 28th April until the end of the May Bank Holiday weekend on Monday night, 4th May.

The operation will also see Gardaí conduct high visibility patrols at major tourist locations, parks and natural beauty spots to ensure compliance with restrictions.

In Meath, patrols have been located at the Hill of Tara and Bettystown and Laytown beaches as well as in the bigger towns.

The reluctance to lift restrictions by Dept of Health chiefs will also have a major impact on schools, with pupils across the county hoping to return and see their friends.

Writing at the weekend in his Sunday independent column, Colm O’Rourke, principal of St Pat’s Classical School in Navan said he had been bombarded with questions from anxious parents.

“‘When will the exams begin, what’s the story with classes for July. Will school reopen in may or September. What is happening with the Junior Cert, what’s the plan?’ The short answer is there is no plan. We are told the starting gun for the Leaving Cert is being fired on July 29th. Nothing about how it will work, supervision, correction, school reopening or anything else. There should have been no announcements without a properly explained plan.”

Fianna Fáil Spokesperson on Education, Thomas Byrne, has called on the Minister for Education to urgently provide clarity on the current state of Leaving Cert preparations.

Deputy Byrne said: “The unprecedented situation created by Covid-19 means that many elements of the Leaving Certificate are up in the air. The Minister needs to provide the greatest possible clarity on what is available to students in these circumstances.

“We need a full and frank assessment of the state of play as it becomes available, from official sources, rather than leaks. They’re not fair on students, their parents or teachers.