Peak of Omicron may not be seen for 10 days, warns Taoiseach

Micheál Martin said that while the vast majority of daily cases are of the Omicron variant, most ICU patients have the Delta variant. Picture: Leah Farrell/RollingNews.ie

Taoiseach Micheál Martin has denied the re-opening of schools on Thursday could worsen community infection with Covid.

He said the public health advice has been very clear that they see no rationale for not opening the schools, speaking to reporters after the Cabinet meeting, “They were very clear on that, as the Chief Medical Officer was yesterday,” he added.

Addressing anxious parents who are worried about the impact of putting their children back in the classroom, he said: “Our primary motivation is the child.

“We want child-centred education. We do know from a range of advices and evidence, from psychologists across to education specialists, that the child benefits best while at school.

“The overall development of the child is best served by re-opening the schools. That is the rationale behind the decision. There will be challenges, but collectively we are working our way through this,” he said.

At the same time the Taoiseach said the peak of infection in Ireland may not be seen for the next ten days.

The bulk of Ireland's sickest Covid-19 patients have the Delta variant and not the highly contagious Omicron strain, he said.

Mr Martin said that while the vast majority of daily cases are of the Omicron variant, most ICU patients have the Delta variant.

Ireland is experiencing a surge in Covid-19 cases driven by the highly transmissible Omicron variant.

On Tuesday, Ireland recorded 21,302 daily infections.

The bulk of Ireland's sickest Covid-19 patients have the Delta variant and not the highly contagious Omicron strain, the Taoiseach said. Picture: Sam Boal / RollingNews.ie

Speaking at Government Buildings on Wednesday following a Cabinet meeting, Mr Martin said: "There is a broader range of pressures on hospitals this year, not just Covid, as there is far more activity out there.

"It still seems that the bulk of the ICU cases are Delta cases, complex, severe illness in many cases and that is the feedback from the HSE.

"The hospitals are under pressure, staff absences are contributing.

"The HSE has far more on its plate than 12 months ago with the rollout of the vaccination programmes, child vaccinations and the booster vaccination programmes."

He said that HSE testing, including PCRs and antigen tests, has jumped to around 650,000 every week.

Mr Martin said the levels of infection are "unprecedented" and the next 10 days will provide further evidence on the severity of illness arising from Omicron.

The National Public Health Emergency Team (Nphet) is to meet on Thursday to assess the epidemiological data.

The government is to ask Chief Medical Officer Dr Tony Holohan to consider reviewing the rules for people who are identified as close contacts and are fully vaccinated.

Mr Martin said he does not anticipate any major changes in restrictions but said it was a matter for public health officials.

"The restrictions we have now are set to run until the end of January and the public have responded well to adjustment of behaviour and that is having an impact," Mr Martin added.

I don't want to pre-empt what Nphet will do in its decisions on Thursday, but it seems the overall picture right now is that the current set of restrictions that have been in place are effective.

"It remains to be seen whether public health wish to advise any further, but the indications are it will be steady as she goes."

He said the HSE is also working to include booster vaccinations in Covid passes.

"It is clear to us that the benefits of the booster are very significant right now in preventing infection and severe illness," he added.

Ireland has 94% of its population fully vaccinated.

Hospital data shows that around 54% of people in ICU with Covid are not fully vaccinated.

"That's a very high figure," Mr Martin added.

"I spoke to some doctors over the Christmas period and one of the first questions they ask people is 'have you been vaccinated?' If a person hasn't been, they ask 'do you regret it'? Invariably the person will say 'I regret not getting that vaccine'.

"All these issues around close contacts have to be kept under review, because the balance is you don't want to take decisions that accelerate further spread."

The Omicron variant is set to peak in the next 10 days, according to modelling data.

Negative Covid-19 test will no longer be required for arrival into Ireland

The decision was made because the Omicron variant is already so prevalent in Ireland and the measure had been introduced as a means of slowing its transmission.

Passengers arriving into Ireland will no longer be required to produce a negative Covid-19 test, starting from Thursday.

The current requirement for air travellers to have a negative test is on arrival into Ireland is to be removed by the Cabinet today.

This is because the Omicron variant is already so prevalent in Ireland, responsible for 95% of cases now, and the measure had been introduced as a means of slowing its transmission.

Previous rules will once again apply from Thursday. This means that passengers travelling into the country by sea or air will need to show their EU digital Covid certs, show they are recovered, fully vaccinated, or have tested negative on a PCR test.

The proposal is being brought to Cabinet ministers this morning following the advice of the Chief Medical Officer Dr Tony Holohan.

According to the Cabinet memorandum, presented to ministers, the Cabinet was asked that the additional international requirements applied in response to the emergence of the Omicron variants be removed.

“The previous measures reapply with effect from the sixth of January. Vaccinated or recovered travellers into Ireland are required to present evidence of a valid digital Covid, cert or other acceptable proof of vaccination or previous infection prior to travel,” the memo states.

“Travellers that are not vaccinated or recovered are required to present evidence of a non-detected PCR test carried out no more than 72 hours before their arrival into Ireland. Any individual that develops Covid-19 symptoms should follow HSE guidance in relation to isolation and undertaking antigen or PCR testing as appropriate. 

"The Minister of Health will, in consultation with ministerial colleagues and subject to the advice of the Attorney General amend the travel regulations in line with government decision,” the memo concludes.

It comes as Green Party leader Eamon Ryan said that no further restrictions will be required to get the country through the Omicron wave of Covid-19 infection.

Green Party leader and Minister for the Environment Eamon Ryan on his bicycle at Government Buildings Dublin on his way into the first cabinet meeting of the new year as the Omicron Variant surge continues. Picture: Leah Farrell/RollingNews.ie

Speaking on his way into Cabinet at Government Buildings on Tuesday morning, Mr Ryan sounded an optimistic note but said nothing can be ruled out when it comes to Covid-19.

Public Expenditure Minister Michael McGrath also confirmed there is no intention to add restrictions despite the Omicron variant being rampant in Ireland.

Mr McGrath said any Nphet recommendations that come forward will be carefully considered.

"At this point, we are not expecting any recommendations involving the imposition of further restrictions," he said.

Mr McGrath also said the peak of the current wave of Covid-19 is still ahead of us.

"We are coming close to the peak. It could be in the next week or 10 days. Nobody knows for sure."

He added: "Thankfully, all the indications are that the impact on an individual level is not as severe as Delta but there is no room for complacency and we are watching and monitoring the situation in the hospitals very closely."

Those comments came as the number of patients with Covid-19 in hospitals topped 900 for the first time since last February. Some 21,302 new cases of the virus were announced last night, the second-highest daily total to date.

The Cabinet is this morning set to approve the purchase of €90m worth of Covid antiviral pills.

The proposal from Health Minister Stephen Donnelly will be considered at the first full Cabinet meeting of the year, which is expected to be dominated by Covid-19.

It is understood that Mr Donnelly is seeking approval for three of these drugs — made by companies Pfizer, GlaxoSmithKline and Merck.

According to the memorandum prepared for ministers, these antiviral pills are being used as a treatment for the disease in people who are high risk and they are said to reduce the risk of hospitalisation and death by 89% if given within three days of Covid symptoms.

The company also reported that its drug performs well against the Omicron variant.

The drugs are being examined by the European Medicines Agency, but have not yet been given full approval.

The Government is also expected to discuss reinforcing the message for people to get booster shots, and to urge the public to maintain low social contacts.