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Ireland is currently due to come out of the current Level Five lockdown on December 1, but there is still very little clarity on what will happen next.
The six-week lockdown will end at the end of the month and we’ve been given some hints on what to expect.
And now we also know when the decision is likely to be made, as Dr. Tony Holohan confirmed that NPHET will meet to discuss its final recommendation to the government next week.
The Medical Director has confirmed that the National Public Health Emergency Team will meet next Thursday, November 26.
(Image: Colin Keegan, Collins Dublin)
They will prepare a formal recommendation to the Minister of Health based on the current situation in Ireland in the fight to suppress Covid-19.
Here’s everything we know so far about the crucial decision:
When will a final decision be made?
According to previous government announcements, the most likely date for a full Cabinet decision is the Friday after the NPHET meeting, which in this case would be November 27.
However, on some occasions, depending on the nature of the NPHET recommendation, the government decision-making process has taken place for several days.
Ultimately, the last call must be made no later than Monday, November 30, and the current measures will expire on Tuesday.
What decision are we waiting for?
This is the million dollar question, and we have been given some clues, although it will ultimately depend on the progress of our battle with Covid-19 over the next few days.
The Taoiseach has recently said that it is still the plan to return to Level Three on December 1st.
(Image: Julien Behal / PA Wire)
There were some suggestions that the country could break out of the lockdown to Level Two, but the leader of Fianna Fail said that is unlikely to happen.
Micheal Martin told Redfm earlier this week: “I’ve always said that on December 1 I want to go back to Level Three.”
And he told RTE Radio One last week that while he has long been looking at Level Three as a target, he would also look at “certain areas and sectors” and make modifications.
He explained: “We have been very clear that we want to get to the end of November and lower the numbers. We will give people a notice of our plans before the end of November so that people can make preparations.
“We are doing a considerable degree of research and we are learning what will work best for us.”
But Martin has yet to decide whether the pubs will be allowed to reopen, warning “to use the phrase, not everyone will be in the whip by Christmas.”
He said that once a decision is made, the hospitality sector will get enough notice to prepare if they reopen.
But he added that pubs were a challenging sector.
He said: “It is a challenge, it makes no sense to pretend that it is not a challenging sector because it is.
“And there are real problems in terms of many people doing their best to deliver, but others not.”
The Taoiseach said that “it is possible” for different counties to exit Level Five at different stages, but it was “preferable” that we exit Level Five nationally.
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