Tackling the Covid surge: Remote working and two tests per week
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The government has been urged to revert to a national work-from-home policy as Covid case numbers soar.
Daily case numbers of the virus reached 5,483 yesterday, the first time since January 10 that the figures have topped 5,000. A higher daily number has only been recorded on five other days since the pandemic began.
The National Public Health Emergency Team (Nphet) wants the government to return to a policy of remote working, where possible, for large sections of society.
Nphet also said people with active social lives should take two rapid Covid tests a week.
Chief medical officer Tony Holohan said yesterday's figures were “one of our highest ever”.
“This is another indication of the very significant increase in the incidence of disease in almost all age groups,” he said.
He urged people to make every effort to "break the chains of transmission" this weekend.
Nphet said anyone who attends pubs, nightclubs and restaurants frequently should take two antigen tests per week. Those engaging in team sports and other activities that involve close contacts should also test regularly.
Taoiseach Micheál Martin said the Government will consider a wider distribution of antigen tests when it meets next week.
This will likely involve making the tests widely available at a subsidised rate from retail outlets and undertaking a campaign to show people how to use the tests correctly.
Mr Martin also said a decision will be made early next week on the national policy on working from home. A cabinet sub-committee will discuss the matter on Monday before a formal position is adopted on Tuesday.
HSE chief executive Paul Reid has called for people to immediately reduce risk activities in order to turn things around.
In a tweet this morning, Paul Reid confirmed that there are now 556 Covid-19 patients in hospitals across the country.
A total of 250 of those in hospitals are receiving enhanced respiratory supports while 95 are in ICU.
He said that the virus is now “prolific in most communities” and that nobody wants to be the next hospitalised case.
Mr Reid added that an “an immediate reduction” of risk activities is needed in order to “turn this around”.