The Minister for Health Stephen Donnelly has said that a zero Covid-19 strategy would be difficult to implement in Ireland as it would mean months and months and months of restrictions.
Speaking in the Dail this afternoon, Donnelly said it is not possible for Ireland to take a similar approach to New Zealand as the effort it would take would require a high level of compliance.
The Health Minister said that given the current levels of compliance in Level 5 restrictions it wasn’t possible to achieve zero covid.
Donnelly also told the Seanad that if a zero covid strategy was to be pursued it would mean months of though restrictions which would mean no education, business, construction and reduced non Covid-19 care in our healthcare system.
The Health Minister also warned that a zero Covid-19 strategy would also leave people with less than they already have as a sports would be cancelled and places like coffee shops would also be closed, whilst the 5km travelling restrictions would be in place for a considerable amount of time.
He added that new variants of the virus would make achieving the target of zero Covid-19 much more difficult.
Donnelly”s comments come as the Seanad debated proposed amendments to the mandatory quarantine Bill in the Dail.
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