IRELAND’S MINISTER for Health Simon Harris has warned the public “we’re not yet where we need to be” when it comes to tackling coronavirus.
Mr. Harris took to Twitter this past Sunday, April 19, to express concern over being complacent when it comes to following the lockdown and social distancing rules put in place by the government to help reduce the spread of coronavirus.
While Ireland’s Chief Medical Officer, Dr. Tony Holohan previously told the Late Late Show that the public’s adherence to these measures had helped flatten any exponential increase in cases of COVID-19, Mr Harris was keen to stress that plenty of work is still to be done.
"A little worried that some complacency is setting in,” Mr Harris wrote.
“We have made progress but we’re not yet where we need to be. We need to see a fall in new cases. Encouraging signs. But please let’s not slip up now. #StayHome. It’ll be worth it! Retweet so we all get a reminder #Covid19."
A little worried that some complacency is setting in. We have made progress but we’re not yet where we need to be. We need to see a fall in new cases. Encouraging signs. But please let’s not slip up now. #StayHome. It’ll be worth it! Retweet so we all get a reminder #Covid19
— Simon Harris TD (@SimonHarrisTD) April 19, 2020
The Health Minister later posted a video echoing the same concerns.
He warned that the assumption of “ah sure we're going well in Ireland, I can take my foot off the pedal” would not only be "disastrous” it could also be “potentially be fatal" to others.
Harris added: "I have a little bit of fear about some complacency setting in with our battle against Covid-19. I am hearing stories of people beginning to somewhat relax their interpretation of the phrase 'stay at home' or the 2km rule or the physical distancing 2 metre rule.
"I need to appeal to you to really, really not do that. My message tonight is do not allow complacency to set in. That would be disastrous. It could potentially be fatal."
Sunday evening - #Covid19 update & days ahead #coronavirus https://t.co/QVKbUyxZxo
— Simon Harris TD (@SimonHarrisTD) April 19, 2020
Mr Harris’s warning comes a day after he expressed doubt over whether pubs in Ireland could fully reopen again until an effective treatment of vaccine for COVID-19 was found.
