The Tánaiste says the Delta strain of Covid 19 will become the dominant variant here.
However Leo Varadkar says there’s no need to panic.
The strain, first detected in India, accounted for 20% of new cases last week.
Leo Varadkar says the Government is concerned but July’s reopening remains on track for now.
"As things stand we're still on track to ease restrictions on the 5th of July."
"But we can't make a final decision on that until next Thursday, until we get up to date advice from NPHET and more data."
“When it comes to the Delta variant there is definitely reason for concern, not reason for panic at this stage.
“We’re still on track to ease restrictions further on the 5th of July,” says Leo Varadkar on his way into Cabinet.
Indoor dining decision to be made next Thursday.— Ben Finnegan (@_BenFinnegan) June 22, 2021
Data From UK Is "Reassuring"
A virus expert says the Delta variant isn't having as big an impact as pervious strains of Covid-19.
Sam McConkey says the latest data from the UK is reassuring:
"The mortality they're seeing in the UK is about one in 1,000 of the people they're diagnosing with the Delta variant."
"That's ten times less than we've seen with the previous one, because it's happening in younger people."
He says it's happening in people who are "mostly less than 35 [years old]."
"If you've got your two vaccine doses then you're pretty much okay."
