Ireland’s Covid-19 response ‘phases’ are set to be replaced by a colour-coded ranking system

The Government is set to introduce a colour-coded system that will represent different levels of response to the Covid-19 outbreak.

Back in May, the Government announced that Ireland would enter a series of five phases with the aim of suppressing Covid-19 and reopening Irish society. After completing the first two phases after three weeks each as planned, we have remained in phase 3 since June 29 due to spikes in coronavirus cases.

With phase four now tentatively scheduled to begin on August 31, Health Minister Stephen Donnelly has been discussing the possibility of replacing the phased approach with a colour-coded system. Speaking on Morning Ireland on RTE Radio One, Mr. Donnelly said that the codes will represent a warning system for “where we are at on any given day.”  The Government’s aim would be to guide Ireland into ‘status blue’ – where the virus is suppressed.

Other levels will be represented by red, orange and yellow, and a blue status would only come into effect when vaccinations are available. Yesterday, the Department of Health reported 35 new cases of C0vid-19 and one further death.

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