'Cautious optimism' on current Covid reproductive rate

Minister for Health Simon Harris has told the Dáil that the reproductive rate for Covid-19 is now between 0.4 and 0.5.

The minister said that this suggests a "stable transition" where the virus has been kept under control, while moving to the first phase of reopening our society.

The reproductive rate of the virus refers to how many other people a confirmed case goes on to infect.

The minister said this and other key indicators give grounds for "cautious optimism".

Minister Harris said the number of people in hospital and intensive care remained stable through last week.

He said there had been one to two admissions to ICU and 10 to 15 admissions to hospital a day.

The minister pointed out that despite more businesses opening and more people moving, the country has managed to keep the virus under control so far.

Minister Harris also warned that the temptation might be to think that the battle is won, and that people can drop their guard, however, he said this is not the case.

He said everyone is concerned about the possibility of a second wave of Covid-19 in Ireland.

The minister said it is our actions that will decide the behaviour of this disease.

Minister Harris said the country has kept it at bay, and we can continue to do that if we stay focused.

Sinn Fein TD Maurice Quinlivan asked about the UHL trolley crisis, which he said was 'coming back' that there were 29 people on trollies today, asked how will they be able to practice social distancing.

Minister Harris said he remained very committed to development projects there and to getting them open as soon as they are ready, and that we can't see a return to the significant overcrowding we have had there before.

Malcolm Noonan, Green party asked the Minister Harris if he would advocate for the more widespread use of face masks.

Minister Harris said he is a big believer in face coverings,  there is now public health guidance that they should be worn on public transport and in indoor areas where it might be difficult to socially distance.

He said there are adverts running on social media on how to make them at home but that a wider public awareness campaign could be useful.

In relation to nursing homes, the minister said the health service is examining the issue of easing some visitor restrictions.

He said they are assessing whether they can allow visitors to meet members of their families outside.

The minister said he did not want to raise hope, but that he hopes progress can be made on the matter shortly.

He said outbreaks have been stemmed in 29 clusters, and there have been no new cases of Covid-19 in over 28 days in those clusters.

But Fianna Fail's health spokesperson Stephen Donnelly said the correspondence revealed between Nursing Homes and the State paint a very dark picture.

Referring to the issue of patients being transferred from hospitals to nursing homes, Deputy Donnelly quoted from the HSE correspondence on March 6th to NHI, that there were no grounds for concerns about discharges as medical assessment would have been carried out 

He said that on 10th March, guidance issued showed patients from hospitals going to nursing homes were not tested. 

He asked the Minister for Health whether that most likely contributed to the deaths in nursing homes from Covid-19.

Minister Harris said there was engagement as far back as February, and that issues in relation to the transfer of patients are done with clinical guidance, with a doctor deciding it was appropriate to transfer somebody.

He said it is true that 'our position on testing evolved' throughout the crisis.

He said he hopes the expert review panel chaired by a public health expert with a geriatrician and a senior nurse could look at the whole issue of admissions and transfers from hospitals. 

Minister Harris also said that from tomorrow, it will be mandatory for passengers from overseas, irrespective of their nationality, to complete a Covid-19 Public Health Passenger Locator Form on their arrival.

He said the form facilitates follow-up checks to make sure that people are staying where they said they would stay.

The minister said this allows authorities to do faster and more accurate contact tracing in the event of a confirmed case.

He said the regulations will be reviewed on 18 June and will be in force only as long as they are necessary.

The Minister for Disability Finian McGrath has told RTE News that Cabinet members had a "positive and constructive" meeting with the Chief Medical Officer Dr Tony Holohan.

He said: "I raised the issues on disability and also the issue of the one metre social distancing."

He added: "We had a very comprehensive debate. He listened to our views and we listened to his views. And I suppose what will happen now is that we will go back into Cabinet on Friday and then make the decision."