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There is a “strong” and “very real” possibility that Dublin will move to level three in the government’s plans to deal with the Covid-19 pandemic, Finance Minister Paschal Donohoe said.
This would mean more severe restrictions for the capital, where there is concern about the further spread of the disease in recent weeks.
Dr. Philip Nolan, a member of the National Public Health Emergency Team, warned that the number of cases recorded daily in the state could rise to 3,500 per day by the end of next month if the virus continues to spread at the current rate.
Donohoe said people living in Dublin who are considering vacationing elsewhere in the state should reschedule it and people in the county planning weddings outside the capital should reconsider this. She said that people should avoid traveling to Dublin whenever possible.
The government has been criticized for not clearly communicating its medium-term strategy Living with Covid-19 since it was published on Tuesday.
Under the plan, the entire state has been set at level two out of five, although additional restrictions have been imposed in the capital as of today, such as restrictions on private gatherings and that pubs that do not serve food cannot open from next week, as will be the case. in other counties.
Level two limits the number of visitors allowed in a home to six people from two or three other homes, up to 15 people can gather outdoors from up to three homes, outdoor sports training is allowed for up to 15 people (except for professional teams) and up to 100 people can watch sporting events outdoors and 50 people indoors.
Level three limits visitors to your home or garden to persons from another household, travel is restricted to your county or region, except for work, educational or essential reasons, attendance at a wedding ceremony or reception is reduced from 50 to 25, not indoors Meetings (including reunions, theaters, cinemas, art venues) are allowed, only indoor individual sports training is allowed, and visits to long-term residential care facilities, including nursing homes, are suspended.
Shouldn’t travel
Donohoe told RTÉ’s Morning Ireland that until the number of cases in Dublin begins to decline, the advice remains that people in the capital should not travel outside of the city or county.
He said that at all times the Government would be guided by the advice of medical experts and that the National Public Health Emergency Team would provide further advice to the Government on Thursday, after which there was “a very real possibility” that Dublin would move. to level Three.
He added that all decisions will be made with the aim of saving lives.
When asked about a case brought by Dublin Labor Party DT Duncan Smith about a couple from his constituency getting married outside of Dublin shortly, Donohoe said he would urge them to reconsider and not leave Dublin.
The minister also said that anyone from Dublin who is considering a stay elsewhere in the country should reschedule and expects accommodation providers to be flexible regarding deposits.
He defended Ceann Comhairle’s decision to stop Dáil’s proceedings on Tuesday when Health Minister Stephen Donnelly underwent a Covid-19 test. The Dáil was a workplace and was subject to the same guidelines as the public, he said. What had happened had been “totally understandable,” he said, but admitted that a temporary postponement might have been more appropriate.
Smith said the government should have clearly placed Dublin at level two or level three on Tuesday.
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