Public health workers are facing into a perfect storm of a Christmas third wave of the coronavirus coinciding with the all-hands-on-deck roll-out of the Covid-19 vaccine.
As case numbers exceeded 1,000 a day over this Christmas weekend, public health specialists predict a bleak January.
According to Dr Una Fallon, director of public health for the Health Service Executive in the midlands, the timing of this third wave could not be worse. If you have a whole new programme to roll out, you have a whole lot of cases that have to be dealt with, your resources will be stretched, said Dr Fallon.
An ‘all-clear’ private Covid test result should not be used as a free pass for Christmas socialising and celebrations, particularly if older relatives are present, health experts have warned.
Deputy Chief Medical Officer Dr Ronan Glynn said he would not recommend it as a protective measure – saying a test is only as good as when it is taken.
There are several tests now available privately, but even the gold standard PCR may not pick up the virus in someone who is positive, if taken at the wrong time.
There are many other measures people can take to protect loved ones over the festive season, including keeping their network very small with just two weeks to Christmas.