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Some restrictions aimed at stopping the spread of Covid-19 have been relaxed for the Christmas period.
Homes can now be mixed with up to two other homes. Previously, people were only allowed to visit those in their own domestic bubble.
People will also be allowed to travel outside of their county.
The measures went into effect at midnight and were to remain in effect for at least three weeks.
However, ministers are likely to study the possibility of advancing the tightening of restrictions to December 28, 29 or 30.
Tánaiste Leo Varadkar said he does not think Ireland is heading to Level 5 and said Ireland is doing well compared to other European countries.
Closed hospitality, limited home visits, and non-essential retail stores that remain open.
The Tánaiste @LeoVaradkar He gave us the details on the possible end of the year restrictions that are being considered.#rtept # COVID-19 pic.twitter.com/m0o7OSb0l8
– RTÉ Prime Time (@RTE_PrimeTime) December 17, 2020
Speaking on RTÉ’s Prime Time, he said: “The kind of restrictions we would be thinking of imposing sometime between Christmas and New Years would be restrictions on hospitality, essentially shutting down hospitality again, and limiting visits to a home that you visit. to another home, but it is not a total ban on all home visits. “
“But personal and retail services would remain open,” he said, also indicating that non-essential retailers would remain open.
Varadkar said it was prudent for the government to wait until Tuesday to make a decision on NPHET’s recommendations should the numbers stabilize.
He said this would still give companies a seven to eight day notice period.
“Unless the figures stabilize over the next few days, we will have to advance from January 6 the moment when we need to re-impose restrictions,” he said.
It comes as the medical director warned of the possibility of an exponential growth in virus cases in January with a substantial increase in hospitalizations and the risk of life if people do not begin to limit their social interactions.
Dr. Tony Holohan said the disease has started to move rapidly and is spreading again across the country in all age groups.
He said the National Public Health Emergency Team (NPHET) is receiving reports of substantial outbreaks in social settings, including work settings, Christmas parties and funerals.
Professor Philip Nolan, chair of the NPHET modeling advisory group, said that the virus’s breeding number, now estimated to be between 1.1 and 1.3, was significantly higher than expected.
Yesterday, the Department of Health was notified of 484 cases of Covid-19 and three deaths related to the virus.
The number of people hospitalized is 200, with 31 of the patients in intensive care, one more than on Wednesday.
At the national level, the 14-day incidence rate of the virus per 100,000 inhabitants is 94.2.
Just hours before inter-county travel restrictions were lifted, NPHET detailed what it called “very strong and very worrying” early warning signs of a resurgence of the virus.
Leading indicators such as GP visits, test referrals, and Covid-19 test positivity rates have increased.
Other measurements indicate that people are moving much more and close contact is increasing.
NPHET said it all adds up to a very high risk of a new and rapid rise in Covid-19 cases which, if allowed to continue, could see up to 1,200 cases per day by the second week of January, if not earlier. our health and education services are under enormous pressure.
They are urging people to be extremely cautious, limiting our number of contacts per week, and to take all precautions during such contacts.
Labor leader Alan Kelly said yesterday that the public cannot be expected to wait five days to receive news from the government about possible additional Covid restrictions that may take effect before the new year.
Kelly said: “Inter-county travel restrictions will be eased … People have made plans to see their loved ones. They cannot be expected to wait in limbo until a cabinet meeting on Tuesday.
He added: “The hotel industry also needs to know if it will be able to stay open as planned for the New Year. Hotels, restaurants and pubs have accepted reservations and many livelihoods depend on the busy Christmas season.”
Varadkar also said that there are no guarantees, but the anticipation is that in the second quarter of 2021, “we will be more in the Level 1, Level 2 space than Level 3, 4 or 5.”
But he believes it will be some time before there are mass meetings. He said that from Easter there will be real improvements.
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