New waves of Covid-19 can be expected every few months, an expert in virology has warned.
Dr Gerard Barry, a professor at UCD, has also said a new variant, which has emerged in India, is likely to hit us around September or October. The virus is “not going to be seasonal” like the flu which disappears during the summer months.
His comments come amid a further rise in the number of people with the bug in hospital. Yesterday, there were 826 patients with the virus, an increase of 30 from the same time on Saturday. It compares to 746 people last Sunday.
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The figure has risen by 30% in two weeks and it has more than doubled from three weeks ago. Speaking to RTE News yesterday, Dr Barry said: “It is likely that its ability to spread is reduced during the summer, so it is a little bit seasonal, but nothing to the extent that we see with the flu or other traditional coronaviruses that tend to disappear during the summer and come back in winter.”
He also warned that new variants of potential concern are already being identified elsewhere. He added: “In India, for example, there’s been a new variant reported in the last week or so that seems to be picking up pace and we would predict that it would probably hit us in and around September or October time.
“It is likely that this kind of pattern, unfortunately, is going to continue for the foreseeable future.” Meanwhile, Trinity professor Luke O’Neill has warned further restrictions and mandatory mask-wearing may be needed as winter approaches.
He told the Sunday Independent: “As we get to the next four-month surge, which is likely to be worse than the current surge, there may well be the need for a mask mandate. There may also be a need for other measures, such as an order to work from home. These will both be justified to prevent our healthcare system becoming overwhelmed.
“The planned winter vaccine campaign will help, and we can expect a directive on that soon. This should involve boosters for everyone over 50, in combination with the flu shot.
He added: “This will greatly decrease the risk of hospital overcrowding.”
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