Mr. Paul Reid:

I will answer the Deputy's questions as succinctly as I can. He referenced the number of hospital cases being low, thankfully, and we want to keep it that way. We now face uncertainty as we have seen a rapid increase in the transmission of the virus among those below the age of 45. I understand that 75% or, in some cases, 80% of the positive cases are now in those aged under 45. Our concern is community transmission and the impact on other groups.

I would make the point that nobody is immune to the virus and some of its impacts. Younger people may think they will not suffer from it. There are extreme cases where people had really bad illnesses as a result of Covid. Our specific concern is the spread of transmission further in the community and among vulnerable groups, particularly older people. We want to protect our hospitals in that regard.

Our colleagues in NPHET will come before the committee later. The measures taken at different stages are recommended by NPHET, based on the best knowledge it has at the time and which it has communicated to Government. From our perspective, I understand the concern. From a health service perspective, the impact of lockdown is key and we know it is significant. It has a significant impact on the health service and recovery, as well as on the public in terms of our services being constrained or, in some cases, shut down. Some of the mental health impacts can be very significant.

I think we are all trying to find an approach that keeps the economy and our society going and can keep our health services going and, equally, protect our public. As I said in my opening statement, that is important not only for the health service and for us in protecting it but also for the way we are seeing the virus transmit at the moment.