Tánaiste rules out a rapid easing of restrictions

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The Tánaiste has said that the country will not go from Level 5 to Level 3 in March and that the easing of restrictions will resemble the reopening after the first wave of the virus last year.

Leo Varadkar also said that the number of daily cases should fall “to a minimum of 100”, and the number of people in ICU should be reduced to 50 or around 50 before the government eases the restrictions.

Speaking on RTÉ’s News at One, he said those who are considered the most vulnerable should have received a Covid-19 vaccine before restrictions are eased.

Mr. Varadkar said that the Government will listen to the advice of the National Public Health Emergency Team before considering easing the measures.

“We will not go from Level 5 to Level 3” on March 5, he said.

“But you can see that things are allowed that are not currently allowed, such as people meeting another home, maybe outdoors. You might see that some aspects of personal or retail services are allowed.”

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The tánaiste said decisions about the bachelor’s exams will be made in the “coming weeks.”

He said “we realize the need for an early decision” and are working with educational partners on possible solutions.

“I really appreciate and understand the enormous stress that sixth graders face. We know they will need an early decision.

“So we are working with teachers, principals, and educational partners on solutions. They need a decision in the next few weeks. We cannot leave them hanging,” he said.

Varadkar said teachers believe a traditional-style exam is possible, but three options are being explored.

“One is the predicted grades again, but that is much more difficult to achieve since this group has not done their drills or their summer exams. Another option obviously is to do the Leaving Cert in a modified form. choice of choice. ”

Government ‘will not seal border’ with Northern Ireland for Covid zero strategy

Earlier, Health Minister Stephen Donnelly said that the Government will not seal the border with Northern Ireland to pursue a “Covid zero” strategy.

Speaking on RTÉ’s Today with Claire Byrne, Minister Donnelly said he does not “disdain” exploring this strategy, but the Stormont Executive and the UK government have ruled out any control between Britain and Northern Ireland.

The minister said a “two-island strategy” is being explored to clarify “whether there is merit in us closely aligning border control measures for the UK and for Ireland as possible, which addresses the challenge, which is the free flow, north / south and east / west of Northern Ireland “.

Donnelly said that “permanent closures are intolerable” but called on people to “stick with these measures because they are working.”

“People are tired. It’s been a tough, tough year. People can’t hug their parents, people in nursing homes can’t see their loved ones, working parents are homeschooling their children. It’s really hard, but it’s working.

“No one was sure how Level 5 would work this time against the new variant. We saw yesterday that the cases were below 1000 and they are moving in the right direction.”

He described the vaccination program as a game changer, but said the government is particularly concerned about the variants detected in South Africa and Brazil.

He said only one outbreak of 667 in the past three weeks has been linked to overseas travel, but the government is working with airlines to say that their “strong preference is that those who do not have a CRP test be refused entry. negative”. before flying.

The minister said that he still hopes that all adults in Ireland will be vaccinated in September, if the vaccines that were ordered in advance are approved and delivered on time, but stressed that this is not a promise but an aspiration that he believes is possible. .

Donnelly said that the vaccination of those over 70 will begin in the next two weeks, starting with those over 85 and this stage will be performed by GPs.

Go to mandatory quarantine ‘significant step’

The Minister of Reform and Public Expenditure said that the measure to introduce mandatory quarantine is a “really significant step.”

Michael McGrath said the priority for extending Level 5 restrictions is to take pressure off the hospital system, but the measures will also address the level of risk associated with international travel.

Speaking on RTÉ’s Morning Ireland, he said it is necessary to keep critical supply lines open and allow movement of those who need to travel for “really essential purposes.”

The minister said that to date 140 files have been forwarded to the Director of Public Prosecution of people who have arrived in Ireland without a negative PCR test.

Gardaí ‘in the dark’ due to new restrictions

Meanwhile, the Garda Representatives Association has said that increased travel restrictions will require a clear plan to be developed, resourced and communicated to the gardaí, particularly in relation to policing the border region.

Speaking on RTÉ’s Morning Ireland, GRA Deputy Secretary General Dermot O’Brien said its members are “in the dark” regarding the implementation of the proposed new quarantine and travel restrictions.

O’Brien said there are more than 300 border crossings and to ensure that all travel is kept within 5km, all roads will need to be surveyed, which he suggested is unrealistic.

He said legislation exists to support enforcement of the 5km rule, but “we don’t want to clog” Garda stations with people who are outside their 5km limit without a reasonable excuse.

The Garda Sergeants and Inspectors Association said its members “have not received any instructions, guidelines or inquiries about the new guidelines regarding quarantine surveillance.”

Secretary General Antoinette Cunningham said they are concerned that there is no legislative framework to call people’s homes and check whether they are self-quarantined or self-isolating.

He added that plans to prioritize gardaí vaccination may need to be reviewed under the key stage of vaccinating workers.

Speaking on RTÉ’s Today with Claire Byrne, Ms Cunningham said that the Gardaí “would never seek priority over the most vulnerable health workers, but that if the Gardaí are asked to expose themselves to infection, they may demand a higher priority of vaccination in Group 6 “.



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