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IRELAND could be facing a series of city-wide lockdowns where urban centers are subject to strict Covid-19 restrictions while adjacent rural areas of the county are unaffected.
aoiseach Micheál Martin issued the warning when he said there was growing concern about the rising rate of Covid-19 detections in the major urban centers of Cork, Limerick, Waterford and Galway.
Dublin is already subject to a three-week lockdown in an attempt to reduce the number of viruses.
All of Donegal County has also been put on a three-week lockdown after the number of virus cases spiked.
Mr. Martin said the Government will now consider citywide closures that respect rural areas of the county if recommended by NPHET.
So far, the locks have been applied to entire counties, but a more specific approach is being considered.
“First of all, we have the opportunity to prevent those areas from going to Level Three if we adhere to the public health guide: reduce congregations, reduce the number of social contacts and wear masks in stores and on public transport,” He said.
“NPHET will advise us in terms of any restrictions that may have to go into other areas.
“They are concerned about urban centers – Cork, Limerick, Galway and Waterford – particularly as universities and institutes of technology reopen in the coming weeks.”
“That’s a concern: where there are high-density populations, the virus can thrive in such situations.”
The UK has imposed such blockades in major cities and, in particular, on university campuses where there have been large groups of viruses.
Edinburgh and Glasgow have banned students from leaving their residences to control the spread of the virus.
“NPHET can advise in terms of particularly localized restrictions although, to date, it has been county by county,” Martin said.
“The numbers are growing particularly in the cities and urbanized parts of those counties.”
“That will ultimately be a matter for NPHET, as it informs the Government. But our goal is to tell the people who live in these places: we can avoid having to go to Level Three. We can keep the numbers low. We stick to the guide and all of us, personally and collectively, do things that will prevent the virus from growing. “
“The rise of the virus has occurred within the community and in all places where there have been large concentrations,” he said.
Martin said that no one wanted restrictions to be imposed, but that the spread of the virus must slow as winter approaches.
“It is a matter for NPHET and they will advise on those situations as they evolve.”
“Suffice it to say, they are very concerned at the moment. I was talking to the medical director during the week and in places like Cork City (cases) have been going up in a straight line in the last two weeks.”
“That is a concern, between 20 and 30 cases a day. That is worrying. The same happens in other areas of the city.”
“We’re pointing that out and making it very clear to people that those are danger areas at the moment. However, Cork is coming from a low base. There is an opportunity to stabilize it. It’s basically in our hands and that’s the message this week.”
“The situation in relation to children: there is generally reassuring evidence throughout the school system that children are not passed on to children. They can bring it from outside to schools, but overall the medical director is satisfied with the situation in primary schools. “
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