Ireland should aim to 'crush' the coronavirus curve and work to eliminate the virus here, according to one medical expert.
The most recent figures have shown a decrease in the number of hospital and ICU admissions here, while the daily growth rate of new cases remains low.
However, the virus is still having a significant impact in the country - with 37 more deaths confirmed yesterday evening.
Speaking on Newstalk Breakfast, Liam Glynn - Professor of General Practice at UL and GP in Ballyvaughan in Clare - says Ireland should not be satisfied with simply lowering the level of coronavirus transmission.
He observed: “We have come a long way in terms of the flattening the curve, and all the signals in terms of hospitalisations and intensive care admissions all do seem to be dropping. The question now is where we are going.
“It isn’t just enough to flatten the curve, in my view - I think we really need to be talking about crushing this curve and trying to eliminate COVID-19 entirely."
Prof Glynn suggested Ireland has an advantage as an island in the battle against coronavirus.
However, he acknowledged that we're not in the same situation as New Zealand - an island nation which has made major strides in its elimination policy.
He explained: “The comparison I think people make between Ireland and New Zealand on some levels isn’t fair - [there's] the remote situation of New Zealand, and the fact it isn’t connected to the European Union in the way we are.
“However, we have the advantage of being an island - we have the advantage of trying to figure out how we do trade and travel across a border, and how we do it safely.
“If we go for elimination, the only way the virus can get on to this island is by importation."
He pointed to a number of measures that could get us to that stage - including some level of border control, continued strong social distancing, and the wearing of face masks or face coverings in enclosed spaces.
Prof Glynn suggested: “We have this ability to adopt and survive, and I want to put my money on the human race and in particular the Irish nation to adopt to this."
