People shouldn't travel abroad for holidays until at least Christmas, an emergency response expert has said.
Dr Ian Norton is formerly a World Health Organisation expert now based in Australia, where he advises on emergency response with his company Respond Global consultancy.
He has previously worked on the response to crises such as the Ebola outbreak in West Africa and the 2015 Nepal earthquake.
Dr Norton is currently working with authorities in Kinsale in Co Cork as part of their efforts to make it the "safest possible destination for holidays" in Ireland, having previously worked with officials in Noosa, Australia on a similar reopening plan.
Speaking on The Hard Shoulder, he explained that he has been watching the coronavirus situation in Ireland very carefully, as his parents have been cocooning in West Cork in recent months.
Dr Norton said: "The way they've been looking after each other in the region is incredible.
"Ireland has done well in its response, and people have listened to the messages... and followed that.
"What worries me is if we lose that fire in our belly - we've got to keep that going.
"This is a reprieve during the summer months, and I am absolutely sure there will be outbreaks further along the line for Ireland."
'I'd be staying at home'
Dr Norton believes should reopen in September, having seen the 'detrimental' effects on children of school closures in disaster-hit countries.
However, he is much more cautious on the prospect of international travel resuming.
He observed: "[Travel] for compassionate reasons, if it's for business reasons, and there's way to manage that risk... that's OK.
"I think people need to understand from a travel point of view... if I was them I'd be staying at home and having a holiday in Ireland this year. I think this should be the case probably at least over Christmas and into the New Year - then we'll know a lot more about the trajectory of this outbreak.
"I think we'll have to keep the Euro spend from Ireland staying in Ireland, and we'll have to trust that the French will spend in France. I think that's the safest way this year."
He was speaking as the Australian city of Melbourne goes back into lockdown amid a spike in COVID-19 cases.
Dr Norton said the spike seems to have partially originated with international travel.
He noted: "There was a breach in some of the security and other public health protocols in these return traveller hotels, where people were coming in and quarantining for two weeks on arrival back in Australia.
"We were doing so well."
However, he said businesses there had been advised to prepare for likely second or third waves of the virus - and he suggested this is looking like "one of those waves".
In terms of reopening Kinsale, Dr Norton said the town is well-suited to reopening in some key respects.
He said: "Certainly outdoor activities... eating and dining on the street, that kind of Mediterranean flair... that works in a place like Kinsale, and that's absolutely the safest option at the moment.
"Outdoor pursuits - walking, kayaking... all these kind of things have low risk compared to things that are inside."
