The HSE’s Dr Colm Henry has distanced the organisation from comments by a senior doctor downplaying the risks from the pandemic (Brian Lawless/PA)The HSE has distanced itself from comments by a senior doctor downplaying the risks from the coronavirus pandemic. Dr Martin Feeley, clinical director of the Dublin Midlands Hospital Group, said people at low risk from the virus should be exposed to it so they can develop herd immunity and reduce the risk to vulnerable groups. He told the Irish Times the data showed the disease was much less severe than the average annual flu. “Herd immunity for an infectious disease occurs when a sufficient proportion of the population develops a sustained immunity either through vaccination or previous infection. Neither is the duration of post-infection immunity known.

Source: Irish Independent September 12, 2020 13:30 UTC