Ireland marks 'day of hope' in pandemic as Taoiseach Leo Varadkar hails 'significant milestone'

The health chiefs revealed no new deaths had been recorded for the first time in over two months

Ireland marked “a day of hope” in the Covid-19 battle as health chiefs revealed no new deaths had been recorded for the first time in over two months.

Taoiseach Leo Varadkar hailed it as a “significant milestone.”

“First day with no reported Covid-19 deaths since March 21.  This is a day of hope.  We will prevail,” Mr Varadkar posted.

Sinn Fein leader Mary Lou McDonald said: “Today is a day for hope and for optimism. It is a day to thank our courageous and selfless frontline healthcare workers.”

Chief Medical Officer Dr Tony Holohan described the news as “positive".

“It is a positive thing, obviously,” he told the Irish Mirror.  “It’s much better for us to be reporting that there haven’t been any notified deaths than to be reporting a figure no matter how small.

“The challenge that we had for this country in terms of Covid and its impact on disease incidence, hospitalisations and its impact on mortality is coming to an end, it is slowing down.”

However the CMO again cautioned against complacency. The death toll from the virus since the first victim died on March 11th is 1,606 - including 1,005 care home residents.

Dr Holohan also defended the Taoiseach after social media footage showed him enjoying the sunshine near his home in the Phoenix park at the weekend with his partner Matt Barrett.

“In Phase One our guidance is that it is up to four persons not from the same household to meet outdoors while maintaining social distancing. I did not see any pictures that are in violation of that involving the Taoiseach,” he said.

On a landmark day in the coronavirus war Dr Holohan stood by NPHET’s cautious approach to rolling back restrictions on a phased basis over the next three months.

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He rejected calls for a reduction in social distancing guidelines from two metres to one – a move which would throw an economic lifeline to many businesses.

Many European countries have reduced the distance in line with the World Health Organisation guidelines to stay a minimum one metre apart.

“Different countries take different interpretations,” he said.  “I wouldn’t say we follow WHO advice rigidly, on some things we have made our own judgements. We have identified two metres as our recommended distance.

“The reality is if people are separated by two metres, the chances of people passing the infection to each other is lower than if they are separated by one.  We could say one, but the risk would be higher. 

“We think two metres is a reasonable compromise, but it is something that we will keep under constant review.  If we think the evidence and the guidance has changed, we will do that. I understand the challenge this might represent to certain sectors.”

NPHET will meet on Thursday with preparations for moving to phase two of re-opening at the top of its agenda.

Dr Holohan insisted the public is behind the Government’s cautious pace of ending lockdown.

A Department of Health survey showed 56 percent of people believe the loosening of restrictions is going at the right pace while another quarter think it is too fast.  Just one five say the restrictions should be eased faster Dr Holohan revealed.

“We think it the right approach for us to take, a cautious, risk-based approach to re-establishing both economic and social activity,” he added.

“I understand the impatience that is there.  If we keep our numbers low we can continue that phasing and progress that is set out three weekly intervals without us having to pause or go backward.

“We do need to get back to a resumption of economic activity.  We do need to get back to a resumption of activity as a society.”

He said NPHET will still not be advising that primary schools come back before the summer holidays to allow sixth class pupils have graduation ceremonies.

“Those rites of passage - many schools have been innovative at marking those kinds of occasions. We think now is not the right time for indoor mass gatherings to be held,” he said.

There were 59 new confirmed cases of the virus bringing the total to 24,593.  The number has been below 100 for nine of the last 10 days.

The CMO said he was not aware of any cases of infection from people using retail outlets in recent weeks.  However NPHET said at least half of new infections are still happening out in the community from unknown sources.

Dr Holohan warned the public should be prepared for outbreaks in schools and workplaces when society reopens.