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It is understood that the Government is preparing to move to Level 5 restrictions for six weeks, as understood by The Irish Times.
Ministers will be asked at a cabinet meeting currently taking place in government buildings to approve a return to the stricter restrictions under the government’s plan to live with Covid.
It is understood that intense negotiations between ministers and health officials resulted in the decision to seek cabinet approval for Level 5 rather than an enhanced Level 4, which was discussed yesterday.
However, it is understood that schools and nurseries will remain open and elite sports will be allowed.
As part of the proposal that goes to the Cabinet, the public will be asked to stay within 5 km of their home.
Under level 5 visitors are not allowed and meetings are not allowed except weddings and funerals.
High-level government sources said the decision to recommend such draconian measures was “very depressing”, but that significant interventions were needed if the public were to return to safe behaviors, and that incremental measures would not work if the current trajectory of the virus was to be invested.
The cabinet met in the government buildings before a full cabinet meeting at 4pm. A formal announcement of the new restrictions is expected to be made around 9 p.m. Monday night.
High-level sources said that it is now highly likely that people will be asked to stay within 10 kilometers of their home, as ministers believe it is one of the most effective restrictions to stop the spread of the virus.
The government is also considering reducing off-leave hours as part of escalating the measures. A closing time of 8pm has been suggested for Ireland to adjust to existing restrictions in the north.
The new measures are likely to take effect in the middle of the week to give the public time to adjust.
Nonessential retail is likely to be shut down again in light of the growing number of Covid-19 cases, a move that representatives say would be a “massive hit” to the sector.
This is an increase in the level under consideration on Sunday night when high-level sources said the government would agree to the “Level 4-plus” restrictions for the entire country for a period of three to four weeks.
Under Tier 4-plus, it is understood that only essential retail stores and primarily outdoor businesses will be allowed to open, visitors to homes and gardens will be prohibited, and gatherings organized indoors will not be allowed.
It is also understood that schools will likely remain open, there will be no games except for elite sports, and pubs and restaurants can only serve take-out food or a maximum of 15 diners outdoors.
Members of the public will also be required to remain within the county, except for work, educational, or other essential purposes.
Building
Sources say that while most of the retail sector and other non-essential businesses will have to close, the cabinet has yet to decide some issues.
Among them is what happens to the construction sector, most of which can be allowed to continue operating, along with most of the manufacturing sector.
While most non-food retail outlets are expected to close, there may be some exceptions, including garden centers and other outdoor businesses and possibly some areas considered lower risk, including the car showroom. .
The government will also be aware that closing car sales would also affect VRT’s revenue. There are also likely to be cabinet discussions about whether restaurant cookouts can continue with the restrictions currently in place to help the hotel sector.
State Minister Colm Brophy said it was important that any decision on new restrictions be correct, adding that it was important to strike a proper balance between public health and business.
Speaking on RTÉ’s Today with Claire Byrne, Brophy said Level 3 was not producing a sufficient reduction in numbers.
He said he believes the GAA championship should go ahead if it can be done safely, as people need something positive in their lives.
He added that, as a former business owner, he believes that restrictions are necessary, “fundamentally” people’s health and lives are the most important thing, he said.
The Minister of State for European Affairs, Thomas Byrne, told RTÉ Radio One that the government’s goal is to do everything possible to protect lives and livelihoods.
However, Retail Ireland, the Ibec group representing the Irish retail sector, said that many companies depend on the Christmas business period to survive. He asked the government to “establish” the risk assessment that supported the decision.
Retail Excellence, Ireland’s largest retail body, said the closure would have a “devastating impact” on the sector, adding that “we cannot close the industry at this time of year.”
“Another 60,000 jobs are at risk in addition to the 30,000 that have already been lost in the industry,” the agency said.
‘Big hit’
Adrian Cummins, executive director of the Irish Restaurant Association, said that an increase in restrictions would be a “big blow” to the sector over the next four weeks. “The focus now should be on opening for Christmas,” he said on Twitter.
The Independent Gym Owners Ireland started a petition six days ago asking lawmakers to move gyms to essential services for the “mental and physical well-being” of the Irish.
Under level 4, the gyms would be closed. However, the petition, which had nearly 27,000 signatories on Monday morning, said that closing the gyms “would affect many people mentally and physically and have lasting effects for individuals, families and their loved ones.”
The opposition has called for additional support to be provided to those affected by any additional public health measures.
Sinn Féin leader Mary Lou McDonald said that offering state support during increased restrictions is a very direct way to build social cohesion and “rekindle the feeling that we are all in this together.”
Speaking on RTÉ’s Morning Ireland, he said that people who are really going to fight would like to see pandemic unemployment pay and wage subsidies fully restored.
Meanwhile, any measure to keep schools open is likely to raise some concern in teacher unions, due to the Covid-19 risk to their members.
The National Organization of Teachers of Ireland said it is “increasingly concerned” that public health precautions for teachers are “inadequate”.
“The desire of teachers to keep schools open must be fulfilled with a strong commitment to keeping schools safe,” he said.
The Irish Secondary Teachers Association said at the weekend that teachers are feeling “fear and trepidation” over the possibility of schools remaining open while Level 5 restrictions are in place.
Last week, the National Public Health Emergency Team asked the state to move to the highest point of the alert plan, Level 5, for a period of six weeks, in light of what it describes as an alarming upward trajectory of infection.
The government is expected to reject some of this advice and instead opt for level 4-plus, for up to four weeks, after which the situation will be reassessed.
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