Immunovirology expert says it's looking less and less likely that indoor dining will reopen on July 5th

NPHET will meet next week to discuss the risk posed by the delta variant before making recommendations about the reopening to Government. 

The variant now accounts for an estimated 20 per cent of cases here, with the HSE warning that figure is likely to increase. 

Professor of Immunovirology at UCC Liam Fanning says based on NPHET's cautious approach in the past, he's not optimistic about dining indoors next month:

"Delta one is so infectious indoors. I think ventilation and the air movement and all that kind of stuff indoors, that there's less certainty compared to outdoors and I think because this abundance of caution has followed us throughout this pandemic, I think that's where we're heading, especially the 5th of July date."