Regional lockdowns ruled out for now

Comments made by CMO while addressing Joint Committee on Health debate yesterday

Published: Thu 16 Sep 2021, 3:00 PM

Last updated: Thu 16 Sep 2021, 3:38 PM

Chief Medical Officer, Dr. Tony Holohan, has ruled out imposing “regional lockdowns” in the hope of curbing the spread of Covid in the Border region, but could not rule out the imposition of such restrictions in future.

Cavan, along with Donegal, went into lockdown longer than any other counties in Ireland, prior to a nationwide restriction on the movement of people towards the end of last year.

“I would say “No” to the last question in regard to regional lockdowns,” said the senior health official when questioned by Fine Gael Senator Martin Conway. “On its own merits, that is not in our planning at this point in time.”

COVID-19 new cases update in the North East region (as of midnight September 14, 2021):
Meath: 41
Louth: 53
Monaghan: 34
Cavan: 15

*This data is provisional and subject to change@HSELive @hpscireland pic.twitter.com/qmnNo4FnPl
— Department of Public Health North East (@PublicHealth_NE) September 16, 2021

The Border counties Cavan, Monaghan and Donegal, said the CMO, have experienced a “very significant challenge” dealing with high levels of Covid-19 infection that reflect more what has been happening in Northern Ireland and that in the rest of the Republic.

He made the comments while addressing the Joint Committee on Health debate yesterday (Wednesday, September 15), where Dr Holohan provided the Oireachtas grouping with an update in relation to the spread of the disease in Ireland.

The Joint Committee also heard from National Public Health Emergency Team (NPHET) in relation to increased levels of Covid-19 in the community, and the capacity of hospitals and intensive care units to cope with increased demand, and from National Immunisation Advisory Committee (NIAC) about the the need for vaccine booster shots and upcoming vaccination plans for the winter.