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Just a few weeks ago, Ireland had one of the lowest corona infection rates in Europe. However, since Christmas, the number of new infections in the country has risen rapidly again, which is why the government is now pressing the emergency brake.
In view of the sharp increase in the number of infections in Ireland, the government has imposed a month-long lockdown. After relatively few new infections in the country, the number exploded after Christmas.
The situation is very dire, Prime Minister Michael Martin said in the evening. “The numbers will continue to deteriorate in the coming days.” Given the speed at which the corona virus spreads, the brakes must be pulled, Martin said.
Ireland’s health authorities recorded 1,718 new corona infections today, the second highest in a row, with a population of just 4.9 million people. At the beginning of the second wave, Ireland opted for a strict lockdown from the start and thus managed to significantly reduce the number of new infections. The current increase is now beating the most negative predictions, according to Martin.
Strong increase since Christmas
The blockade that has been decided is similar to a curfew. This means that private visits are as prohibited as public gatherings; There are only exceptions for weddings with up to six people and funerals with up to ten people. People should only leave their homes for work, education and other necessary purposes. Outdoor sports are allowed within a five kilometer radius of the apartment. The start of classes after the Christmas break will be postponed three days until January 11.
Just a few weeks ago, Ireland had one of the lowest infection rates in Europe. However, since the government eased restrictions before Christmas, the five-day average has more than tripled in the past two weeks. According to Martin, the new Corona variant, which was discovered in Britain, also plays a role in the rapidly increasing number of infections. The prime minister said he believed the mutation was spreading “much, much faster,” threatening to overload the healthcare system.
“Very difficult for everyone”
The health authorities also warn of this, according to which the number of corona patients treated in the hospital has almost doubled in the last week. Without additional measures, the number of cases could double every seven to ten days.
Next month will be “very difficult for everyone,” Martin said. But thanks to vaccines there is hope. “For the first time since this terrible disease hit our country, the end is in sight.” He is confident that tens of thousands of people in Ireland will be vaccinated by the end of January.
