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Restaurants and pubs that serve food should close apart from takeout and deliveries starting at the end of the month, to curb the spread of Covid-19.
Based on post-Christmas plans, the Irish Times reports that further restrictions will be placed on businesses from December 30.
The government is expected to soften the advice of the National Public Health Emergency Team (Nphet) to introduce these measures on December 28, opting for the day before New Year’s Eve.
He is also expected to reject Nphet’s advice to ban inter-county travel after Christmas and allow people to travel outside of his county until January 6.
As of December 30, new restrictions on home visits will also come into effect.
People will be asked to allow visits from no more than one other household, compared to the two currently allowed under the relaxed measures for the Christmas period.
Level 3 plus
The new restrictions will be introduced before New Year’s Eve to reduce the number of close contacts, as traditionally people meet in large numbers.
The plans remain subject to Cabinet approval, and the government will meet Tuesday to consider Nphet’s request to tighten the restrictions.
In a letter to the government on Thursday, Nphet recommended “Level 3 plus” restrictions from December 28.
Under these restrictions, people would stay in their county and both restaurants and gourmet bars would close except for deliveries and takeout.
Taoiseach Micheál Martin said on Friday that the government was “very willing” to accept Nphet’s advice.
Ireland
Covid-19: ‘The country just can’t cope’ with infecting …
Senior government sources said they were now preparing to implement the new restrictions in the days after Christmas.
Political sources have said privately that the “Tier 3 plus” restrictions could be in effect until a vaccine implementation begins to take effect.
Yesterday, Medical Director Dr. Tony Holohan warned that “the country simply cannot cope” with current levels of infection, as six Covid-19-related deaths and 582 additional cases were confirmed.
Both the Cabinet and Nphet are scheduled to meet over the Christmas period to monitor the situation, with a Cabinet meeting scheduled for December 29.
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