Infectious disease guru says it is necessary to consider a “gradual increase” in limits to reduce the spread of COVID-19.
Professor Sam McConkey, director of international health and tropical medicine at the Royal College of Surgeons, said the increase in cases was a “national problem.”
With the death of three people 1,012 cases were reported yesterday, The maximum number of new coronavirus cases per day since the peak of the pandemic in April.
Professor McConkey said yesterday’s numbers, including 241 cases in Dublin, show that the trend for numbers maintaining levels in the county is “twisted.”
Talk to Record with Gaban Riley, He said the country needs to come up with a medium-term plan to deal with the virus.
He states: “I was hoping that Level 3 wouldn’t necessarily improve Dublin’s situation, but at least it could level off. That’s certainly what we thought we were seeing. But now I’m not confident.
“In other countries, the rate of increase is so high that it’s a big concern.
“We now feel that we have national problems that extend outside Dublin and Donegal.
“One option might be to go to something like Level 4 in a deteriorating county and at least stop it.
He added, “In my view, we should definitely raise the limits of our country little by little at this point, or the problem of worsening and gradually escalating into an increasingly serious quagmire. I will be involved in. “
After Tánaiste Leo Varadkar previously acknowledged that a “short and sharp” circuit break lockdown may be needed to reduce the number of cases of COVID-19.
Professor MacConkey said: “In Ireland, we need to take collective action to reduce numbers.
“If we continue where we are, it’s like purgatory, like an increase in cases, an increase in hospitalizations, and a continuous and inadequate life with an ICU in our country. [admissions] And death.
“This current orbit we are currently on is very inadequate.”
He added that stricter restrictions may now allow more freedom in time for Christmas.
He states: “It was a tougher closure for two months than Level-5, as we did in March, April and May, but the number in June has declined.
“It certainly took control of things temporarily.
“It may allow us to spend a better Christmas and a happier social life together and productively during the December / January period.
“I think we need to discuss the medium- to long-term plan nationwide,” he said.
Professor McConkey also said that the two weeks are too short and it is desirable to implement a three-week limit out of four.
He added that the second blockade could be effective.
He said: “One strategy is to bounce [lockdown] Perhaps 3 weeks, 2 weeks is too short to see what’s going on with this. Therefore, advanced outbreak control and improved public health cannot be achieved in 3-4 weeks. “
Professor McConkey suggested that the upcoming budget remove VAT from new phones or subsidize phone costs provided that people use the COVID tracker app effectively.
He also said that currently users must be 16 years of age or older, so users aged 10 to 16 must also be allowed access to the app.
