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Finance Minister Paschal Donohoe has said there is “a very real and strong possibility” that the direction for Dublin will change by the end of the week and that the capital will face further restrictions.
Today new public health measures for Dublin go into effect. The specific restrictions are aimed at suppressing Covid-19 in the capital, where new cases of the coronavirus have steadily increased in recent weeks.
Mr Donohoe said health experts will meet tomorrow and provide the government with guidance that will then be considered before a recommendation is made to people living in Dublin.
Speaking on RTÉ’s Morning Ireland, Donohoe said the reason additional guides have been issued for Dublin, in addition to the Level 2 guide, is to see what can be done to continue to keep those who live and work in Dublin as safe possible.
He said the new Covid-19 oversight group will give the government time to consider and implement NPHET’s recommendations in a “swift and effective” manner.
Minister Donohoe said the new group will look at how the NPHET recommendations will affect the overall progress and well-being of the country.
The minister said that NPHET is independent from the Government and that the independence and experience of its members will continue to be respected.
He said that some new countries will be added to the green list of countries free to travel from Monday.
From then on, if the EU agrees on a common travel framework, he said the government will consider it and, hopefully, “will be in a position to integrate our country into that framework.”
The minister said that the government will do everything possible to improve the response time of tests, but said that with almost one million tests completed, it has demonstrated its ability to implement the correct test procedures.
He said that the additional 600 million euros for a winter support plan secured by the Minister of Health to provide resources to the health service will help the Executive of the Health Service to deal with the virus at a difficult time for the country.
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The government ‘functions normally’ after Donnelly’s negative test
Meanwhile, restrictions on cabinet members were lifted last night after Health Minister Stephen Donnelly tested negative for Covid-19.
Tánaiste Leo Varadkar said that all the ministers would be “working normally” today, in light of the test result.
However, Dáil’s current business had to change.
A series of Dáil votes, due to be taken today, have been delayed until next week because the House suspended nearly four hours yesterday due to Cabinet restrictions.
Ceann Comhairle Seán Ó Fearghaíl later accepted a request from Labor leader Alan Kelly for a written explanation of how such a postponement was decided.
Shortly after attending a cabinet meeting yesterday morning, and then speaking to the media about the government’s new medium-term plan on living with the coronavirus, Donnelly felt bad and contacted his GP to make sure. a virus test.
That course of action had been suggested by the acting medical director, Dr. Ronan Glynn, who in turn advised all other ministers to restrict his movements until the test result was known.
Donnelly was informed last night of a negative test result, so the restrictions placed on the Cabinet were immediately lifted and ministers will return to their desks today.
Sinn Féin health spokesman David Cullinane said it was good news that the minister had tested negative, and the very quick response time to secure his result showed how crucial it is for everyone.
Yesterday, the Department of Health confirmed 357 additional cases of the virus, 218 of which were recorded in Dublin. The 14-day incidence rate per 100,000 Dubliners is now 95.
Starting today, people living in the capital are encouraged not to travel outside of the county. This is one of the new public health measures announced for Dublin.
Now a maximum of six people from no more than two households in Dublin must meet at any one time.
The number of people who can attend sports games and events is limited to 100.
The Government also announced that Dublin pubs that do not serve food will not reopen on September 21 as planned.
The Taoiseach has said that the National Public Health Emergency team will meet again tomorrow and provide the Government with further advice on Dublin at that stage.
The World Health Organization says that data to date suggests that 80% of Covid-19 infections are mild or asymptomatic, 15% are serious infections that require oxygen, and 5% are critical and require ventilation.
Generally, you must be 15 minutes or more close to and within two meters of an infected person to be considered at risk or in close contact.
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