Christmas festivities are eliminated in Ireland with the return to the Level 5 lockdown as new cases rise by 970

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CHRISTMAS has been canceled for many people as Ireland goes back to Level 5 restrictions tomorrow.

Restaurants, pubs and hairdressers must close until at least January 12.

It comes after 970 new Covid-19 cases and 13 deaths were revealed.

But Taoiseach Micheal Martin, left, said there is “light at the end of this tunnel” with a delivery of 10,000 hits for St. Stephen’s Day.

The CHRISTMAS lights will go out across the country tomorrow when the country enters a third lockdown with Covid cases out of control.

The shutters will be closed in restaurants, pubs, hair salons and beauty salons when Taoiseach Micheal Martin announced a return to strict measures.

The government has said that the blockade will be reviewed on January 12, but warned that the strict rules could remain until late February or early March.



People outdoors in bars and restaurants in Dublin city center. Gastronomic restaurants and pubs will close at 3:00 PM on Christmas Eve due to level 5 restrictions.

Tanaiste Leo Varadkar described the situation as “the darkest hours before dawn and these hours can actually be very dark.”

Comes as health
Officials are concerned that the new and more virulent strain of the deadly disease is already here in the Republic and is spreading.

A modification has been made to the Level 5 restrictions as the Government strives to balance protecting lives while allowing people to have some kind of Christmas.

Visits from two other homes will be allowed through Stephen’s day.

But home / garden visits will be reduced to one on December 27 and then banned from January 1 with exceptions for essential reasons like childcare and caring for vulnerable people.

Inter-county travel is not allowed starting December 27, but people can return home after Christmas.



12/22/2020 People outdoors in bars and restaurants in the center of Dublin. Gastronomic restaurants and pubs will close at 3:00 p.m. on Christmas Eve due to level 5 restrictions.

Retail may remain open, but the government will ask stores to defer January sales.

Gyms and pools can only open for individual training.

Cinemas, museums, galleries and libraries will close. Individuals will only be able to attend church services on Christmas Day, but the mass will be moved online from St. Stephen’s Day.

Up to 25 guests can attend a wedding until January 2, but the number will drop to six on January 3. Only 10 people can attend funerals.

Schools will return as normal after the Christmas break, while child care services and early learning will continue as normal as well.

The Taoiseach said it was with a “heavy heart” that he had to deal another blow to the public just before Christmas and could not say whether or not this would be the last Level 5 lockdown. He added: “This virus is potentially deadly and, if left to spread uncontrollably, it will reach the most vulnerable. And they will pay a very high price.

“Many people will receive today’s news with regret.

“I know I bring it to you with one.”

Mr. Martin said that the Government has to act on the assumption that the new variant of Covid is already here and that the number of cases increasing is due to the mix of people, but added that “clearly something is happening in terms of change and increase”.



12/22/2020 Taoiseach Micheal Martin TD on television in a city center pub during a speech to the nation announcing that the country will return to Level 5 restrictions with adjustments between December 24 and January 12

He warned that “the application will be strong” in relation to the powers granted to gardai. He revealed that regulations will be developed to cover the decisions that have been made.

Martin said seniors should not take risks during the holiday season and stay home.

Mr. Varadkar stated that older and vulnerable people “need to protect themselves again” and that young people mingling with older relatives is “a recipe for disaster” and there is “a
huge concern ”about this over Christmas.

He warned that in the current trajectory of the disease we could see 2,000 cases by New Year’s Eve and 1,000 before Christmas Day if no action is taken.

Last night, Mr. Varadkar said that the first vaccines will be on December 30, confirming that 10,000 doses will land here on Saint Stephen’s Day.



Taoiseach Michael Martin delivers a speech to the nation on the latest update to closure restrictions on Dublin government buildings. Ireland is returning to the highest level of its Covid-19 response level 5 with some adjustments, such as allowing stores to remain open.

He told RTE Prime Time: “From the first week of January we expect tens of thousands of vaccines to arrive each week. And then we hope that the second one, the Moderna, will be authorized at the European level probably on January 6 or 7, perhaps AstraZeneca at the end of January, and then moving to February or March with the vaccine in GPs, pharmacies and also mass vaccination centers, 15 of them throughout the country ”.

Varadkar warned that although 40,000 jobs will be saved as retail can remain open, if outbreaks occur, the situation will be reviewed. The government will help companies and CRSS will be paid a double week for the next two weeks and a weekly payment while they are closed.



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