15 June 2021
Ministers in Ireland have confirmed that the rise of the Delta variant will not affect the reopening date of July 5.
Senior Government sources dismissed the suggestion the Delta variant would delay reopening. “The narrative that our reopening will slow down is not true,” said one Minister. “I don’t believe Delta will affect our reopening plan.”
The new variant, first identified in India, is a cause of increasing concern within the Government as it tackles the Covid-19 pandemic. It is at least 60 per cent more transmissible than the original Alpha variant.
On Monday, UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson delayed the lifting of remaining restrictions in England until July 19.
