Written answers
Tuesday, 27 July 2021
Department of Health
Covid-19 Pandemic
Brendan Griffin (Kerry, Fine Gael)
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2128. To ask the Minister for Health if advice will be provided on a matter regarding summer camps (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36609/21]
Stephen Donnelly (Wicklow, Fianna Fail)
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As the Deputy will be aware, on 29 June, Government announced the next phase of reopening the economy and society in line with Recovery and Resilience: The Path Ahead.
While significant progress is being made in relation to the roll-out of our vaccination programme, the rapidly increasing prevalence of the more transmissible Delta variant, and the significant risk this poses, in particular to those who are not yet fully vaccinated, meant that a number of higher risk indoor activities did not recommence as planned on 5 July, pending the implementation of a system to verify vaccination or immunity status.
Disease incidence has increased rapidly in recent weeks, especially among those who are not yet fully protected through vaccination and the outlook for the coming weeks is very uncertain.
Summer camps should adhere to public health measures on organised indoor and outdoor activities as appropriate, applying at the time. At present, that means that outdoor camps can go ahead, but indoor camps are not permitted as they would involve significant indoor social mixing of households. Details of public health measures can be found online: www.gov.ie/en/press-release/7894b-post-cabinet-statement-resilience-and-recovery-the-path-ahead/
Significant and sustained progress has been made on suppressing the virus over recent months due to the huge effort of people across the country. By working together, we have saved lives and limited the impact of the disease on society in Ireland. To protect the gains of recent months we must continue to practice basic preventative behaviours and to follow public health guidelines.
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