The Taoiseach received his booster vaccine dose today.
Taoiseach Micheál Martin has said he is “concerned” but “hopeful” about the Covid-19 situation in Ireland.
He made the comments as he received a booster vaccine at Cork City Hall on Friday (10 December).
The Taoiseach said in a Twitter post he was “delighted” to get the dose.
“Thanks to all the staff and volunteers at Cork City Hall, who expect to get 1,500 people vaccinated today,” he wrote.
“Every effort is being made to maximise vaccine numbers as the best protection we have against the threat of Omicron and Covid.”
Delighted to get my booster dose today.
Thanks to all the staff and volunteers at Cork City Hall, who expect to get 1500 people vaccinated today.
Every effort is being made to maximise vaccine numbers as the best protection we have against the threat of Omicron and Covid. pic.twitter.com/YtM3wXptGn
— Micheál Martin (@MichealMartinTD) December 10, 2021
The Irish Mirror reports that after he received the booster vaccine, the Taoiseach stated that he was “concerned” about the potential rapid spread of the Omicron variant in the coming weeks and after Christmas.
“Its doubling time seems to be shorter and certainly it seems to have an advantage over Delta,” he said.
“I’m concerned but I’m also hopeful because… I’m just after getting a booster vaccine that illustrates the capacity of science and our system to respond to the threats of this pandemic.
“I think 2022 gives us hope as well but in the interim, we have a very serious variant and I’m reading what’s happening in Scotland and the UK, they’re estimating that it will take over Delta and that it is more infectious than the Delta variant.
“That is something we have to be worried about.”
Asked about the possibility of introducing further restrictions, the Taoiseach said “the honest answer” was that one could never rule out anything in relation to the virus because it brings “many twists and turns”.
“What I think is important is that we adhere to the guidelines that are in place and also the restrictions that have been brought into play and that in our own personal and collective behaviour we take care, that is key,” he added.
“To be fair to people, [in] the last number of weeks, they have taken the message. They have taken the advice on board.”
Meanwhile, on Friday evening, Chief Medical Officer (CMO) Dr Tony Holohan said Ireland is in a “very uncertain and unstable position” due to high Covid-19 incidence.
He made the comments as 4,115 new cases of the virus were confirmed in Ireland.
As of 8am on Friday, 511 Covid-19 patients are hospitalised, of which 110 are in ICU.
The @hpscireland has today been notified of 4,115* confirmed cases of #COVID19.
As of 8am today, 511 COVID-19 patients are hospitalised, of which 110 are in ICU.
— Department of Health (@roinnslainte) December 10, 2021
Main image via Julien Behal Photography / RollingNews.ie
LISTEN: You Must Be Jokin’ podcast – listen to the latest episode now!
