The country will be under a level 5 blockade for two months

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The public can expect to be under level 5 restrictions for the next two months, according to Tánaiste Leo Varadkar.

Taoiseach Micheál Martin announced that the country was moving towards another level 5 lockdown with a “series of specific adjustments”.

The measures have been advanced due to the “exponential growth” of Covid-19, which registered 970 new cases and 13 more deaths.

Medical Director Dr. Tony Holohan said the current trajectory of the disease in the community was “of great concern” and cautioned that intergenerational visits during Christmas are now extremely risky.

“It is up to each of us to rethink our plans for this Christmas period, especially when it comes to visiting elderly or medically vulnerable family and friends,” he said.

In its current trajectory, the number of cases could reach 1,000 the day before Christmas and “maybe 2,000 a day before New Year’s Eve,” added Leo Varadkar.

He said the country must prepare for the restrictions to last until spring.

Micheál Martin maintained his decision to reopen the country at the beginning of the month, despite the worrying increase in Covid-19 cases. Photo: Julien Behal
Micheál Martin maintained his decision to reopen the country at the beginning of the month, despite the worrying increase in Covid-19 cases. Photo: Julien Behal

Under the latest lockdown announcement:

  • The current home visiting rules remain in effect until the end of St. Stephen’s Day and then are reduced to another home until December 31.
  • Out-of-county travel is allowed until the end of December 26. Individuals can travel back at their own pace, but no new inter-county travel is allowed after that.
  • Christmas religious services may take place, but will move online after December 25.
  • Travel restrictions from Great Britain remain in effect until December 31.
  • Restaurants and pubs with food close from 3:00 p.m. on Christmas Eve.
  • Hairdressers and personal services to close from Christmas Eve.
  • Non-essential retail can stay open
  • Gyms may remain open for individual training. The 5km limit will not be enforced, but exercising close to home is recommended.
  • Restrictions to be reviewed on January 12

“It will probably be towards the end of February or the beginning of March before a critical mass of the population is vaccinated and I think we must operate on the basis that these restrictions will be in place until then,” said Leo Varadkar.

He said no one expected the closures to happen so quickly, adding that for the hospitality sector and those providing personal services, the third-time shutdown is devastating for both businesses and their staff.

While there may be an expectation that they would have to close for a certain period in January, no one, as recently as this weekend, thought it would happen so soon.

Finance Minister Paschal Donohoe has said that the latest restrictions, which include closures of bars and restaurants, will cost an additional 20 to 25 million euros in payments from the Covid-19 Support Restrictions Scheme (CRSS).

He said that “based on the possibility of a level 5 or equivalent measures for next year,” the government expects between 250,000 and 300,000 people to be unemployed in 2021.

Micheál Martin maintained his decision to reopen the country at the beginning of the month, despite the worrying increase in Covid-19 cases.

“People had the opportunity to prepare for Christmas and spend time together,” he said.

“The hospitality trade was reopened on a limited basis and travel between countries was allowed. It was important for people’s mental health and well-being.

Unfortunately, in the last week, we have seen extraordinary growth in the spread of the virus.

He said there was no firm evidence yet that the most virulent strain of the virus is in this country, but added: “The growth rate of the last week tells me that the safest and most responsible thing to do is to proceed with the assumption that it is already here. “.

He said the government had agreed to “act quickly and confront the renewed threat aggressively and head-on,” and new laws will be drafted for further application of the new measures, although many already exist.

Meanwhile, 300 people returned to Ireland on the first repatriation flight last night after the ban on travel to and from the UK was extended until December 31.

Due to the rapid rate of spread of the virus in Britain, the HSE has published new advice for travelers.

Those who traveled from Britain since December 8 must now isolate themselves for a period of 14 days from the arrival date and arrange a Covid-19 test, calling a GP or medical services after hours.



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