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'No specific NPHET advice on children limiting activities' - Taoiseach

CMO Dr Tony Holohan says extra restrictions cannot be completely taken off the table
Sean Defoe
Sean Defoe

15.28 28 Oct 2021


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'No specific NPHET advice on c...

'No specific NPHET advice on children limiting activities' - Taoiseach

Sean Defoe
Sean Defoe

15.28 28 Oct 2021


Share this article


The Taoiseach Micheál Martin says Government has been given no specific advice from NPHET on children limiting their activities.

Deputy Chief Medical Officer Dr Ronan Glynn asked parents to consider cutting down on what their children are doing for the rest of the mid-term.

It comes amid fears over the rising number of new COVID-19 cases, and the strain it is putting on the hospital system.

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On Wednesday, Dr Glynn suggested trick or treating can still go ahead, but reducing frequency needs to be considered.

"People can trick or treat, people can do the things they normally do at Halloween.

"But maybe don't do it every day over the weekend; maybe don't meet up with multiple different groups of children.

"It's not a message that any of us want to be giving, and it's not a message that I'm sure parents want to hear.

"But we do need to take the basic precautions - on the other hand, if we do take the basic precautions, there's no reason why people can't do the things that we normally do at Halloween", Dr Glynn said.

But Mr Martin says it is important for the mental health of children they can keep up activities.

"We have received no advice in terms of children not doing outdoor sports, or being engaged in outdoor activity.

"And I think one of the dangers of the next phase is - because of the nature of our weather - that you're going to get far more indoor activity and living conditions, which can be a factor in the spread of the disease".

Christmas restrictions?

While Health Minister Stephen Donnelly says there is no red line number at which the Government will re-introduce COVID-19 restrictions.

However, he earlier warned that elective surgeries may have to be cancelled if ICU numbers continue to increase.

And Chief Medical Officer Dr Tony Holohan has said there are no plans for another lockdown, but extra restrictions cannot be completely taken off the table.

He said he is "optimistic" enough will be done to avoid any restrictions.

"We do have it within our gift, we've shown it in the past as a country, that our collective behaviour - particularly in response to surges of the infection that we're seeing at the moment - can turn around and change.

"And if we can get to that point... that we hope and are optimistic that we can achieve a change in transmission, such that we won't need to do anything further in terms of measures", Dr Holohan said on Wednesday.

Main image: Taoiseach Micheal Martin speaking at Government Buildings, Dublin in July 2021. Picture by: Julien Behal

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Advice Children Dr Ronan Glynn Micheál Martin NPHET NPHET Advice Restrictions

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