A spike in Covid-19 cases is "almost impossible to avoid", a leading immunologist has warned. Professor Luke O'Neill said small outbreaks are okay and can be controlled, but larger spikes, such as what is happening in Melbourne, are of concern.
Speaking on RTÉ's Brendan O’Connor programme, Prof O’Neill said Ireland is "still playing a blinder" with the best numbers in western Europe in terms of the rate of increase.
But, he said, we are in this for the long haul and warned that as winter comes "if we take our eye off the ball, numbers are going to go up".
Prof O'Neill said more indoor activity in Melbourne as well as people socialising and large numbers of immigrant workers being housed together led to the resurgence of the virus there.