The health minister Stephen Donnelly has said the latest model provided by NPHET showed that the most optimistic scenario could see 5,000 new cases of Covid-19 per day if the measures announced by the government on Tuesday are not implemented.
In a Twitter post, Stephen Donnelly said the model’s worst case scenario could see 12,500 peaked cases if no action is taken.
He said the model’s pessimistic projections could see 2,300 people in hospital, 450 of whom would need intensive care.
“This is the information that informed Government decisions this week. This wave of disease can be brought down by us all playing our part,” he said.
According to measures announced, close family contacts who are fully vaccinated and have no symptoms should limit their movements. The closing hours for all licensed facilities will change from tonight to midnight and everyone will be required to return to work from home unless it is necessary to be at work in person.
He also said that the government cannot rule out a lockdown in the coming weeks, which would devastate the economy on the run up to Christmas.
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