Micheal Martin and Leo Varadkar's latest on Covid in…

Micheal Martin and Leo Varadkar's latest on Covid in Ireland as restrictions question asked

Ireland is currently experiencing a surge in Covid cases prompting many to question whether restrictions will be reintroduced.

Acting Chief Medical Officer Professor Breda Smyth has warned that the latest sub variant is even more transmissible than previous variants.

As of 8am Monday, there were 849 cases in hospitals across the country.

Prof Smyth said the majority of these have been seen in older people, as she urged those who are yet to get their second booster to do so.

Taoiseach Micheal Martin at the official reopening Fitzgibbon Street Garda Station (Collins Photos)

As the cases continue to rise, Taoiseach Micheal Martin has said he will wait for advice from the National Immunisation Advisory Committee (Niac) on whether people should be given a fourth Covid vaccine.

Mr Martin said a second booster would be the "key weapon" in the fight against Covid in the coming months.

Asked about the likelihood of restrictions being reintroduced, Mr Martin said: "I can't predict with certainty what will happen because all I can predict is uncertainty.

"I think that's why we're making sure we have legislation, that if we had to bring back mask mandates for public transport, or indeed for retail, that we would be in a position to do that quickly.

"But again, we think we've moved out of the emergency phase. All the public health advice is through vaccination and through personal responsibility and people taking care."

Mr Martin also emphasised the impact case numbers are having on hospital services as he pointed out that half of the 885 people in hospital with Covid would have been admitted for non-Covid related reasons.

He said: "That then has an impact on hospital services in terms of isolation protocols and in terms of delayed discharges from hospitals, the inability of nursing homes to take people in from hospitals as quickly or as normally as they would.

"Likewise in the workplace, we can see with Aer Lingus and the airlines where people are off sick with Covid, and it's led to the cancellation of flights.

"So that is a concern, that it remains a significant disruptive force in our society and in our community."

Meanwhile, Tanaiste Leo Varadkar has said a "very extensive Covid and flu vaccine programme" will be rolled out in early autumn to help alleviate pressure on hospitals.

The Tanaiste said it is possible that the Government will ask people to wear masks in certain settings during the winter but said he does not envisage a return of "restrictions that restrict people's freedoms or cause people's businesses to close".