Outdoor Covid-19 transmission risk figures 'misleading', says HSE chief

There were 42 outbreaks associated with outdoor gatherings, with one community outbreak accounting for seven cases, according to the data from the HPSC. File Picture

The HSE's chief clinical officer has warned that the risk of transmission of Covid-19 outdoors may not be as low as has been reported in recent days, amid calls to accelerate the opening up of outdoor activities.

Government TDs have cited Health Protection Surveillance Centre (HPSC) data given to the Irish Times, which showed that of the 232,164 cases of Covid-19 recorded in the State up to March 24, 262 were as a result of outdoor transmission, representing 0.1% of the total.