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The cabinet agreed to restore pandemic unemployment to 350 euros per week before the expected increase in coronavirus restrictions to level 5.
The payment will be made to people who have been earning € 400 or more per week, while existing PUP recipients who previously earned € 400 or more will also increase to € 350.
Government sources say that an agreement has also been reached to increase wage subsidy rates in line with PUP rates.
According to the latest figures from the Department of Labor Affairs and Social Protection, 244,153 received PUPs last week.
This number is expected to rise next week, and thousands of workers are likely to be laid off as the country returns to the highest level of lockdown restrictions.
The new measures are expected to take effect from Wednesday night and last for six weeks until the end of November.
All non-essential retailers, such as hair salons, hair salons, toy stores and gyms, will be forced to close, although schools and daycare centers are expected to remain open.
Pubs, cafes and restaurants will only be able to serve take out food and indications are that the 5k travel restrictions from people’s homes will be reintroduced.
Home visits, as well as outdoor and indoor gatherings, will be banned, but allowances for social visits will be made to combat social isolation.
Strict new rules are being introduced in an attempt to stop the rampant spread of the virus across the country.
A further 1,031 cases of the virus were confirmed earlier tonight, but thankfully there were no more deaths.
Nearly a quarter of the most recent cases are in Dublin and a top medical adviser warned that the capital is likely to face months of restrictions and a possible Christmas shutdown.
“We have produced many models and the guide says that Dublin will be under significant restrictions to reduce cases until January,” DCU professor of health systems Anthony Staines told the Irish Daily Mail.
“There are too many cases. We have had level 3 and the number of cases in most of the country has not even stabilized.
“It may have stabilized in Dublin, but it hasn’t come down.”
An announcement regarding the latest restrictions is expected at 9pm tonight and you can follow the latest updates on our blog live.
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