Cabinet will meet to discuss tightening restrictions as North heads for a new shutdown



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The cabinet will meet later today to discuss the possibility of increasing Covid-19 restrictions around the border.

Government sources have said it is “possible” that some border counties will move to Level 4 of the Living with Covid state framework shortly, but have emphasized that there are issues arising with the state of the retail sector.

While no decisions have been made, the possibility of Donegal, Monaghan and Cavan moving up to level 4 tonight has been debated.

Health Minister Stephen Donnelly has said that Republic schools will remain open despite the decision to close them in the north. “The plan is for the normal pause to occur,” he said.

“Obviously, we are very aware of what is happening in Northern Ireland. In my opinion, it was the right decision for the executive. ”

“The situation is worrying. Their case numbers are several times greater than ours when adjusted for the population, ”Donnelly said.

Regarding possible increased restrictions in border counties, Donnelly said there is an “ongoing conversation with Nphet and cabinet colleagues” on this issue, but that it will not be based on whether there will be an announcement today.

When asked about people crossing the border to access alcohol given the new 8pm restriction in the north, Donnelly said he believed people would be “in trouble” to convince authorities that a “trip to the office “counted as an essential trip.

Earlier, Tánaiste Leo Varadkar confirmed that the government is likely to consider increasing coronavirus restrictions in border counties when the North enters a four-week lockdown.

Retail remains open in Northern Ireland but would close in border counties below Level 4. Fears have been expressed about shoppers crossing the border and the risk of infection it poses. The entire Republic is currently at Level 3.

On Wednesday, Northern Ireland Prime Minister Arlene Foster said pubs and restaurants would close for four weeks, with the exception of takeout and deliveries, while schools would close for two weeks during the mid-break. end of Halloween in an attempt to slow the spread of the coronavirus. .

Sources have previously confirmed that there have been discussions in Dublin about a rapid move to Level 4 for border counties in a bid to limit cross-border infections, amid growing alarm over rising coronavirus cases in the north.

“I haven’t heard yet what the Stormont announcement is. Once we know for sure what the Northern Ireland Executive has decided, the Government will respond to that and we will see if we should take similar steps or what actions we should take in relation to the border counties, ”Varadkar said. Newstalk on Wednesday morning before news of the Northern Ireland measures surfaced.

“We do our best to align and cooperate with Northern Ireland as best we can but as you know the Northern Ireland Executive has not favored an all islands or a 32 county approach but we do our best to coordinate and cooperate as much as we can.

“The incidence of the virus in Donegal, Cavan and Monaghan in particular is very, very high. Probably today we will have to make a decision on whether we should respond with greater measures also in the border counties.

The National Public Health Emergency Team (Nphet) is expected to make recommendations to the government on Thursday.

Public Expenditure and Reform Minister Michael McGrath said the government will do everything it can to keep schools open, even though there is a provision in Level 5 that they could close if advised to do so for public health reasons .

Also speaking to Claire Byrne on RTÉ Radio One, Finance Minister Paschal Dohonoe added: “We are going to do everything we can to support our country through this. It’s about coming together to get through this. “

Previously, Varadkar told RTÉ that Morning Ireland’s restrictions in border counties could be tightened due to Covid-19 levels in the north, but that the government would wait to see what the Northern Ireland Executive announces today and what recommendations it made. Nphet on Thursday.

Varadkar said that he would rather see Dublin Covid-19 rates fall further rather than simply decrease. He said the Dublin cases appeared to have stalled today.

Meanwhile, the government’s plan remained for schools to remain open even if the country goes to level 5, he said.

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