Speaking on Newstalk Breakfast this morning, Minister Michael McGrath commented that "there is absolutely no room for complacency" - later adding that 'no one expects widespread reopening' at the end of this month.
Speaking to Michael McGrath about 'the Covid situation', Ciara Kelly noted that yesterday's figures state there were 93 deaths - the highest since the pandemic began. Agreeing that there it was a "shocking number of deaths" reported yesterday, Minister McGrath went on to say:
"It is a stark reminder, if we need another one, of just how deadly this virus can be. Behind each one of those numbers is a person... We are seeing some progress in the overall numbers now - the daily case numbers and the number of people who are hospitalised - but there is absolutely no room for complacency."
Questioning him on whether the numbers are still a result of socialising over Christmas, the Public Expenditure Minister said that the numbers have remained "higher for longer than the majority of people expected - even the public health experts".
Later commenting on how much longer he expects current restrictions to remain in place, McGrath didn't give much hope that guidelines would be eased anytime soon.
"I think it's fair to say that no one expects that there will be a widespread reopening of the economy. We need to drive these numbers down much further."
Cabinet is due to meet to discuss the matter early next week.
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