The international evidence shows that pubs and restaurants are likely “major spreaders” of coronavirus, according to a public health expert.
Vintners have insisted that the decision to order pubs that don’t serve food to remain closed for Christmas is based on politics rather than science.
The Vintners Federation of Ireland (VFI) has warned that pubs account for just 0,28% of COVID-19 outbreaks in Ireland – while almost 75% have been traced to household settings.
DCU Professor Anthony Staines said that, while Ireland has not investigated where household infections were originally seeded, other countries have done so.
“For most people in Ireland, we don’t know where they were infected,” he said.
“In most other European countries, we are doing this tracking back so we have a fair idea where people are getting infected.
“That is why we believe that pubs and restaurants are probably major spreaders of this illness – because that is what has happened in other countries.
“The vintners and the restaurants association are rightly saying that, on the Irish data, we just don’t know but going by international data, we probably do know.”
It comes as a new study found that Cork, Limerick and Galway all saw an increase in their 14-day COVID-19 rates after ‘wet’ pubs were allowed to open in December.
The Sunday Times reports that the study, undertaken by consultants EY found no similar surge in Dublin, where they remained closed.
It found that infection rates increased by 10% to 12% in the three cities, more than three-times the national average.
It is believed the study was a factor in Cabinet's decision not to order non-food pubs to remain closed this Christmas.
VFI Chief Executive Padraig Cribben said Government has shown that is does not trust publicans or their customers to act responsibly.
“The Taoiseach said in his speech that it was a question of personal responsibility and trust,” he said.
“Effectively what he is saying is, the Government doesn’t trust 3,500 publicans, doesn’t trust the 22,000 people employed by them and in particular, doesn’t trust the patrons that frequent those outlets and I think that is very sad.”
