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The entire country should be subjected to Level 5 restrictions for a period of four weeks, the government has been told, in a move that has sparked widespread shock and concern about the impact such restrictions could have.
While the country as of Monday morning remains at Level 2, or Dublin and Donegal’s Level 3, government sources said the recommendation had put it in an “impossible position.”
Cabinet sources expressed their deep concern about the impact on the economy and society that going to such a level of alert would entail, as well as whether it would be accepted by the general public.
The National Public Health Emergencies Team (NPHET) met Sunday to discuss the increasing incidence of the virus, as well as the potential impact on the health system of the escalating number of cases.
While there was growing expectation on Sunday that some increase in the state’s alert level was likely to be recommended, the suggestion of a total blockade of the Republic took the country’s political leaders by surprise.
On Sunday night, Cabinet sources expressed serious reservations about the adoption of the recommendation. One minister said: “My concern is that people will not accept it. People just had it. They find these restrictions very difficult; not have some limited form of human contact. “
The minister said the only other country in the world with similar restrictions, if adopted, would be Israel.
Anger for communication
Another said the Cabinet would want an explanation of a “blanket move” to Level 5. There was also anger at how the news broke through the media Sunday night, with ministers saying that a full meeting of the government should have taken place. Cabinet, and that the measure should have been communicated through a speech to the nation by the Taoiseach.
Going to level 5 would imply that home visits would not be allowed; no gatherings except funerals or weddings, where only six people can attend; there are no indoor events; there are no sporting events; and bars, cafes and restaurants are open only for take out or home delivery.
People would be advised to stay home and exercise just 5km from home, and public transportation will be avoided, with only 25 percent capacity allowed for essential workers.
Taoiseach Micheál Martin, Tánaiste Leo Varadkar and Green Party Leader Eamon Ryan will meet with Medical Director Dr. Tony Holohan on Monday morning to discuss the recommendation. After that, a full Cabinet meeting may follow, or the next steps may be discussed by the group of senior officials appointed to consider advice from NPHET, or the Cabinet subcommittee on Covid, or both.
Personal insolvency
Elsewhere, the Government is poised to reform the state’s personal insolvency regime to allow full access to judicial protection for struggling debtors affected by the Covid-19 pandemic. Currently, debtors can apply for a personal bad debt settlement that has been rejected by their creditors, but only if their mortgage was in default before the start of 2015.
According to the plans being carried out by the Minister of Justice, Helen McEntee, this will be eliminated. “In the context of the current pandemic, these issues run the risk of denying distressed homeowners the protection provided by the Personal Insolvency Act if they are struggling to pay what they owe,” he said.
Meanwhile, a new study has found that the threat of arrest, fines or quarantine does not encourage people to behave in accordance with public health advice on Covid-19. Research on global attitudes was conducted by academics from NUI Galway.
A total of 364 new cases of Covid-19 were reported in the state on Sunday, with no new deaths related to the condition. Ten deaths were reported on Saturday.
The total number of Covid-19 related deaths in the Republic of Ireland stands at 1,810, and the total number of confirmed cases stands at 38,032.
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