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THE Tanaiste has said the government will have a “better idea” on whether the country will move to Level 4 restrictions on Friday.
The entire country has been subject to Level 3 restrictions since October 6, yet county incidence rates and case numbers have continued to rise.
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The National Public Health Emergency Team (NPHET) will meet this Thursday and will make a call on whether the Level 3 restrictions are working effectively.
When asked by a journalist if the country is closer to Level 4 than it was this time last week, Varadkar said at a post-budget press conference: “I think we will have a better idea on this on Friday.
“Obviously we will have the updated teacher model [Philip] Nolan on Thursday and be in a position to make negative decisions for the country as a whole on Friday. “
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Last night, Medical Director Dr. Tony Holohan indicated that Dublin could see additional restrictions following a further increase in cases in the capital in recent days.
He said at a press conference: “We cannot conclude that we have turned the corner in Dublin, even if we can see that the growth rate is different than it was.
“We don’t have anything like the evidence. I would like to be able to conclude that the situation in Dublin is stable enough.”
The border counties, Donegal, Monaghan and Cavan, could also face additional restrictions if new measures are introduced in Northern Ireland.
Health and government officials are mulling over the possibility of imposing a six-week blockade in the north.
BORDER COUNTY INCIDENCE RATES
Border counties now also have the three highest 14-day incidence rates in the country.
Cavan has an incidence rate of 385.9 per 100,000 residents, while Donegal is at 354.9 per 100,000 and Monaghan is 330.7 per 100,000.
On Sunday, Varadkar said a “short and hard lockdown might be necessary to hit the virus on the head again.”
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According to the Sunday Independent, the Tanaiste said a circuit breaker type lockout could be considered, but cautioned that it would have far-reaching impacts that must be considered.
He told the newspaper: “The problem is that when you are completely blocked it is difficult to get out of it. As we have already learned, reopening is much more difficult than blocking.
“This would represent a short, hard block to hit the virus back on the head and reduce the number of cases to a manageable level. Similar to a second block, but not as long.”
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