CMO: People taking holidays abroad this summer is “not realistic”

Chief Medical Officer Dr. Tony Holohan has poured cold water on the idea that people will be heading abroad for their holidays this summer.

Yesterday, Ryanair chief Michael O’Leary said that he expects people to be taking holidays abroad this summer if 50% of the Irish population is vaccinated against Covid-19. However, at a press briefing yesterday evening, CMO Dr. Tony Holohan dismissed this outlook, saying that it would not be “realistic” for people to be heading to foreign countries for summer holidays.

“I don’t think we are heading for a summer where millions of people from this part of the world can be heading to beaches that are other than in their own localities,” Dr. Holohan said, adding: “I don’t think it’s realistic to foresee a summer that would be characterised by things we would all like to do, where we would travel off to Europe for holidays.”

Dr. Holohan emphasised that NPHET is advising against all forms of non-essential travel for the foreseeable future. His comments came after Trinity College immunologist Professor Luke O’Neill said over the weekend that “we will be back in beer gardens with friends in June and indoor pubs towards the autumn but we’ll have one more summer holidaying in Ireland.”

Yesterday, new regulations were introduced that could see fines of up to €500 issued to people who are found to be leaving Ireland without an essential reason.

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