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Leo Varadkar has warned that further restrictions may be necessary in the New Year after the measures for Christmas are eased.
The Tanaiste said it favors dropping more stringent measures for the holiday season, but not to a point where “another Level Four or Five lockdown” is needed in January.
The current restrictions will expire on December 1, at which point the retail outlets will be allowed to reopen under an improved Tier Three model.
Serving pubs and restaurants will likely open later in the month, at a time when the travel ban outside of their own county is also expected to be lifted.
But the Tanaiste warned the Dail that the severe restrictions could be re-implemented for a short period in January or February to help mitigate any resurgence of the coronavirus.
Taoiseach Micheal Martin is expected to make an announcement about the Christmas restrictions later this week.
Speaking at the Dail tonight, Mr. Varadkar said: “I think we should try to ease the restrictions next week, but not so much that it is necessary to return to Level Four or Five for an extended period in the New Year.”
“A third short period of tightened restrictions may be necessary in January or February, but we must try to avoid a prolonged period.
“Our ‘suppression’ strategy is perhaps best described as one of ‘delay and vaccinate’ and I don’t think we are too far from being successful.
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“Safe and effective vaccines are on the way, and when we vaccinate those most at risk, such as nursing home residents and healthcare workers, around 200,000 people, we will change the calculus for decision-making in the future.
“It will reduce the number of Rs, the number of cases and the mortality rates even when we spread the vaccine to other groups more widely, as we must, to achieve herd immunity.
“Mass antigen testing, despite its limitations, will have a role to play in 2021 to identify more cases more quickly and reduce the risk of spread.”
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