Northern Ireland

Covid: NI and Irish Chief Medical Officers issue joint warning about spread of Delta variant

Chief Medical Officer Sir Michael McBride during a Covid-19. Picture by Kelvin Boyes/Press Eye/PA Wire
Chief Medical Officer Sir Michael McBride during a Covid-19. Picture by Kelvin Boyes/Press Eye/PA Wire Chief Medical Officer Sir Michael McBride during a Covid-19. Picture by Kelvin Boyes/Press Eye/PA Wire

A JOINT warning about the "growing concern" of the Delta variant of Covid-19 has been issued by the Chief Medical Officers on both sides of the border.

Sir Michael McBride and Dr Tony Holohan discussed the evolving profile of coronavirus across the island of Ireland during a meeting on Saturday.

In a statement after the discussions, they reminded those intending to travel across the border in the coming days to be "alert to the epidemiological situation in the relevant local areas and to ensure that they avoid activities which could place them or their families at risk".

In particular, the CMOs highlighted their growing concern about the spread of the Delta variant and advised that everyone "should remain careful and continue to follow the public health advice".

"Now is a time for continued caution in order to maintain the progress made to date in each jurisdiction, until more people are fully vaccinated," they said.

"People who are not yet protected through vaccination should remain extra vigilant, avoid crowds or large events, meet up with others outdoors where possible and come forward for testing if they develop any symptoms of Covid-19."

It came as Sinn Féin said that "all-Ireland cooperation is key to tackling Covid-19".

Colm Gildernew, the party's Stormont health spokesperson, welcomed the joint statement by the CMOs about the ongoing efforts to tackle the pandemic.

"Our health service works best when it works together," he said.

"Cooperation across the island is key to tackling COVID, particularly with the spread of the delta variant.

"We need to see further cooperation between the health services and health ministers."

Meanwhile, Tanaiste Leo Varadkar yesterday said young people who are not fully vaccinated can travel abroad this summer, despite the chief medical officer's advice to the contrary.

People under the age of 30 are unlikely to have both vaccine doses until September at the earliest.

Mr Varadkar said it would be "unfair" to ask them not to travel, when the EU's digital travel cert, set to be introduced on July 19, allows for travel for people who take PCR tests or who have previously had Covid.

He told RTÉ: "We have to take wider considerations into account, and that's why the Government advice, the law we're putting in place, is actually different than the CMO's advice.

"We are saying that people who aren't fully vaccinated, including all those young people, can travel abroad, but they will need to get a PCR test before they return and that is the protection that we're looking for.

"I understand the advice from the CMO, it's totally right from scientific and medical grounds. But because of the unfairness to young people, we are saying that young people who aren't fully vaccinated can travel."