Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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887. To ask the Minister for Health the degree to which he remains satisfied that measures to combat Covid-19 remain sufficiently robust to achieve their initial objective; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51255/21]

Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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888. To ask the Minister for Health if interim calming measures are being contemplated to address any new Covid-19 issues arising; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51256/21]

Stephen Donnelly (Wicklow, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 887 and 888 together.

As the Deputy will be aware, the Government will meet on the 19th October to consider the next steps in relation to the management of COVID-19. The National Public Health Emergency Team are meeting on the 18th October and will provide advice to Government in this regard.

Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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889. To ask the Minister for Health the extent to which research has shown whether unvaccinated groups are directly contributing to a re-emergence of Covid-19; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51257/21]

Stephen Donnelly (Wicklow, Fianna Fail)
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There are likely to be multiple factors contributing to transmission of COVID-19 in Ireland including increased mobility and social interaction across society. While a significant proportion of infections are occurring in the unvaccinated population (both those who are ineligible by age, as well as those who are eligible but have not taken up the opportunity to be vaccinated) the current force of infection is resulting in a significant number of infections in older, vaccinated people. Recent surveillance data in Ireland indicate that the proportion of all hospital admissions who are not fully vaccinated is high in proportion to the number of non-vaccinated people that remain in the population. As of 12th October 2021, at least 33% of hospitalised cases of COVID-19 were not fully vaccinated while the number of unvaccinated patients in ICU remains high, representing 64% of ICU admissions. The recent increase in COVID-19 incidence in Ireland continues to be closely monitored by the National Public Health Emergency Team (NPHET).