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The country will move to Level 3 restrictions from December 1, Taoiseach Micheál Martin has confirmed.
However, the Cabinet is still undecided on whether the pubs and restaurants will fully reopen before the Christmas period.
A decision on this is expected towards the end of the week.
The Taoiseach said The Irish Examiner that the stores will reopen next week, adding that the government will be “flexible” in the advice it gives to families, particularly in relation to Christmas week.
Mr. Martin said that “individual behavior” and “our own collective behavior is going to be critical” in getting through the holiday season.
Vaccine for COVID-19
He added that the launch of an effective Covid vaccine in the first half of 2021 would trigger a “rebound in the economy.”
Mr. Martin said that the Government will listen to the advice of the National Public Health Emergency Team (Nphet).
The government has also commissioned a separate body of work to identify ‘specific places or circumstances’ where the virus is likely to spread, also taking into account the socio-economic impacts of different measures.
All of this will be considered when the Cabinet meets on Tuesday.
Mr. Martin said, “Our goal has always been to get out of level 5 to level 3 on December 1st, that’s our goal and our goal and that it would allow non-essential retail stores to open and give you something free before Christmas.
“What our own data really shows us is looking back over the summer and the September / October period is that the congregation, the gathering of large crowds, the alcohol, the events, all those things that came together, demonstrated the cause of many spikes in different parts of the country, we have to try to avoid it again in future, people should be aware of that. “
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