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The government faces pressure from all sides as it seeks to chart a route out of the lockdown and a Christmas reopening for businesses amid concerns that the number of Covid-19 cases is starting to rise again.
The employers’ lobby, Ibec, asked Taoiseach Micheál Martin for a gradual easing of restrictions on companies starting next week, leading to a return to Level 2 in mid-December.
He urged him to prioritize hospitality, retail and travel in the plans for the reopening of economic and social life, which the government is currently considering.
However, Medical Director Tony Holohan said yesterday that he was “increasingly concerned” by recent trends regarding Covid-19, and government sources say the National Public Health Emergency Team is pushing for a slower reopening and severe restrictions on travel to Ireland.
In a letter to Mr. Martin, Ibec boss Danny McCoy accused Nphet of “limiting the choice of government” by making regular interventions in the media and that “we understood that you and your colleagues were going to address” the practice.
The group also said it was “intolerable” that a plan to ease the restrictions had not yet been published. He called for a meeting with the Taoiseach “as a matter of urgency” because confidence in managing the pandemic was “declining within the business community.”
Moving average
Nphet reported a further 366 cases and 11 other deaths last night. The five-day moving average of daily cases has risen from 350 cases on Nov. 11 to 424 yesterday, Dr. Holohan noted.
The medical director’s warnings came after the government took a 180-degree turn and abandoned proposals noted the previous day to ban pubs that sell take-out drinks in an effort to prevent people from drinking together outdoors.
Following resistance from Green Ministers and Fine Gael, and some Fianna Fáil TDs before the Cabinet meeting, Health Minister Stephen Donnelly withdrew a memo that proposed making it a crime for people to gather to drink in the air free. It is understood that the memorandum was drawn up at the behest of the Department of the Taoiseach.
The Irish Times understands that the government did not consult with Garda headquarters before drawing up the plans. Senior Garda sources said no additional powers were required and that “hot spot” places where people have gathered from time to time to drink during the shutdown would be more closely monitored starting this weekend.
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