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Micheal Martin and Leo Varadkar latest updates on Christmas and the third bull running
Here’s all the latest from the two most powerful people in the country:
Taoiseach Micheal Martin
Micheal Martin appeared to deal a blow to the number of people allowed for home visits during Christmas.
With the second shutdown scheduled to end on December 1, the Taoiseach said the government must “take into account” how the ban on home visits during Level Three helped stop the spread of the disease.
Noting that there may be strict rules on how many households should be mixed over Christmas, he said: “What has come up is the measure in restricting households after it was introduced during Level Three seems to have had an impact, so we have to Bear that in mind as we move into December.
“Level three and the restriction of homes that we brought in and then level five worked and has worked.
“There has been a narrative around this that I don’t think is useful or accurate, it has worked, we reduced the numbers.”
Tanaiste Leo Varadkar
The Fine Gael leader warned that the severe lockdown restrictions could be re-implemented for a third time 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 last night at the Dail, Mr. Varadkar said: “I think we should try to ease the restrictions next week, but not so much that it is necessary to go back 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.
“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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