Public health expert suggests postponing Christmas family gatherings until June

Public health expert Dr. Gabriel Scally has suggested that families postpone Christmas gatherings until June 2021.

Speaking on RTE News, Dr. Scally said that the Government should provide the incentive of two extra Bank Holidays in June. From Friday of this week, three households will be allowed to mix and people will be allowed to cross county boundaries for a period of three weeks.

However, Dr. Scally said that it is “no good implementing restrictions when numbers have increased and said that sensible restrictions should be in place at all times.” He added that since Ireland had been such a good position in comparison to Europe, “restrictions should not be relaxed over the Christmas period.”

Other countries in Europe such as Germany and the Netherlands are implementing stricter Covid-19 restrictions in the lead-up to Christmas. Meanwhile, it has been announced this afternoon that Wales will move into stricter lockdown restrictions at 6pm on Christmas day. London is one of several areas of England that moved into tier 3 restrictions this week.

Dr. Scally added that multi-generational gatherings are “dangerous and people should avoid them.”

READ NEXT: 12 great Irish self-care gifts for when 2020 is getting you down