Stephen Donnelly (Wicklow, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I thank the witnesses for their preparation and time, which is much appreciated. I also acknowledge the great work the committee secretariat has been doing. The briefing notes have been excellent.

I will start with Professor Mallon. In his opening statement he said: "I and others in the infectious diseases clinical community believe that it is inevitable that we will experience a resurgence of cases as we relax restrictions and permit more travel". In his view, and in the view of the infectious diseases community, how extensive is that resurgence likely to be? Critically, could it lead to more mass closures of healthcare facilities, businesses, schools and so forth?