NPHET considers colour-coded response to replace phases

​A new colour-coded response is being considered by the National Public Health Emergency team as part of Ireland's Covid-19 pandemic plan. 

Minister for Health Stephen Donnelly said NHPET has spent a considerable amount of time looking at how Ireland can move to a sustainable long-term plan and the colour-coded system is different to the original roadmap, or phases, outlined by the previous government. 

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NPHET will meet today to review the latest trends on Covid-19.

Speaking on RTÉ's Morning Ireland, the minister said the phases were about providing time frames, but the codes are a warning system on where "we are at on any given day." 

He said he believes the measures introduced for Laois, Kildare and Offaly are very nuanced and it is possible that such measures will be introduced in other areas in the future. 

​Mr Donnelly also said that testing and tracing systems will enable public health teams to move as quickly and as locally as possible to try and contain outbreaks when they occur. 

He said the State will pay any Covid-19 related payment because any employee that feels unwell should not be concerned about having to be off work. 

​The President of the Royal College of Physicians of Ireland said that advance pandemic planning by Government needs to centre on rapid, agile testing that can be scaled up at short notice on a regional basis. 

Professor Mary Horgan said testing needs to be able to move across sectors in different counties very quickly, followed by rapid contact tracing which should lead to the containment of any outbreaks. ​

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