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Taoiseach Micheál Martin has confirmed that Ireland will move to Covid’s Level 5 restrictions as cases continue to rise across the country.
Follow our live blog for updates below.
18.25
Travel: Under Level 5 lockdown restrictions, we will again only be able to travel within 5km of our homes.
Schools: Schoolchildren will not return to school until January 11. The schools were due to return on January 6.
Home Visits: Under restrictions, all home visits will be prohibited beginning at midnight tonight. The only exclusions are people who must visit another home for childcare reasons, to care for the elderly, or if they are in a support bubble with another home.
Retailers: All businesses will be closed tomorrow, but essential stores, such as grocery stores, will remain open.
Funerals / Weddings: Wedding guests will be restricted to six starting January 2, while funerals will be restricted to 10 mourners.
Sports: The gyms, leisure centers and swimming pools will be closed from tomorrow. The restrictions that prohibit group sports indoors and outdoors remain in effect.
Pubs / Restaurants: Pubs and restaurants remain closed, but those that can offer take-out will be able to do so according to plans.
18.21
“In the week before Christmas, 5 percent of the tests were positive, yesterday we had 18 percent,” Minister Martin said.
“In the last seven days there have been 7000 cases, that is, a 61% increase over the previous week.
“This is different from the second wave, we are seeing all ages, from 19 to 24 and a worrying increase in those of 65 and over.
“This time it’s different …”
Minister Martin said 454 Covid patients were in hospital this morning.
“That doubles in a week,” he added.
And the breeding number showing how fast the disease is spreading has risen from 1.6 to 1.8.
“The situation is extremely serious, the figures will deteriorate even more in the coming days,” he added.
“I have always been clear that we will do what we have to do when the virus is growing and now it is growing exponentially.
“This is not a time for nuance in our response, we must apply the brakes on the movement and return to Level 5 restrictions for a period of one month.”
18.20
Here are some of the key guidelines for the new restrictions:
- Visitors to your home or garden: No visitors, except for essential family reasons or those in your bubble of support.
- Domestic Travel: Stay home except for travel for work, education, or other essential purposes, or for exercise within 5 km of your home.
- Retail: Essential retail only from close of business on December 31st.
- Elementary and Secondary Schools: Reopened January 11.
- Work: Work from home unless you work in essential health, welfare or other essential service that cannot be performed from home.
- Weddings: Maximum of 25 guests until January 2 inclusive; maximum 6 people from January 3.
- Funerals: maximum 10 mourners.
18.17
“On Christmas Eve we received the news that the new strain is in our country,” said Taoiseach Micheál Martin.
“The international investigation is ongoing, but it is very clear that we are dealing with a rapidly spreading disease … with the disease that is spreading much faster, the threat to our healthcare system and the risk of death to populations. older is obvious and has become urgent. .. “
The measures will be in effect for at least four weeks, but could be implemented for longer, depending on the number of cases.
The schools were supposed to open on January 6, but will remain closed until January 11 to monitor the situation.
And in an attempt to stop any New Year’s Eve gatherings, which could lead to more cases, Minister Martin explained that action must be taken now.
“As of tonight, visitors are not allowed in private homes or gardens, unless they are providing care to children, the elderly or as part of a bubble of support.”
10 people will be able to attend funerals and six to weddings.
However, all the stores will be closed tomorrow, along with the gyms.
“We should stay home to work, study and exercise at home. All non-essential retail stores and gyms are closing tomorrow,” Martin said.
“All the research is that schools are safe, the new restrictions will be in effect for 10 days (for schools),” he added.
18.15
Retail Excellence, which represents retailers of all sizes across the country collectively employing approximately 280,000 people, expressed “shock and dismay” over the government’s decision to extend the new Covid-19 restrictions to include non-essential retail establishments.
Duncan Graham, CEO of Retail Excellence, described the move as “a hammer blow for the retail industry.”
“We did everything they asked us to do over the Christmas period. We restricted the number of clients in the run-up to Christmas, we handled the post-Christmas period with great care and sensitivity as requested and we paid great attention to ensuring that security protocols were adhered to. “
18.07
The Secretary General of the Irish National Teachers Organization (INTO), John Boyle, welcomed “the rapid movement of the government to delay the reopening of our primary and special schools.”
INTO had asked that the reopening be postponed until Monday, January 11 at the earliest, due to the “alarming increase” in cases.
“As we said yesterday, alarming public health data and concerns expressed regarding the new Covid-19 variation justify this approach,” he said.
Boyle said INTO “will seek to work constructively with the Department of Education and NPHET to ensure that our schools reopen next month and have the supports and protections necessary to remain open safely.”
18.05
Micheál Martin confirms that Ireland will move to Covid level 5 restrictions.
After midnight, all home visits will be prohibited, except for those to care for children, the elderly or in social bubbles, and schools will remain closed until January 11.
Mr. Martin said:
“We must protect the lives of those we love, the actions we are taking are saving lives… right now this is what we must do. We must ensure that as many of our people as possible are with us to enjoy the brighter days ahead. “
18.00
The Minister of Housing, Local Government and Heritage, Darragh O’Brien TD, has confirmed the reintroduction of the moratorium on evictions from midnight as a result of the return of the 5km restrictions on the movement of people.
Minister O’Brien also confirmed that his Department is working on a package to cover commercial fee waivers for affected businesses for the first quarter of 2021 and that construction remains an essential service under these new restrictions.
Commenting, the minister said: “The urgent legislation we enacted in October means that every time a 5 km restriction is imposed on people’s movements, in accordance with public health restrictions, the moratorium on evictions goes into effect. force automatically.
“This legislation provides tenants with clear legal protections by effectively stopping evictions during the duration of the 5km travel restrictions and by adding an additional ten-day grace period to allow people to find new accommodation in the very small number of cases where this may occur necessary.
“While there was some opposition to this selective and balanced measure in October, it is clear that this legislation, along with legislation protecting tenants in arrears due to Covid-19 and at risk of losing their rent, was enacted for the first time. in August and will operate until April 2021, it is working to protect those most affected by this pandemic ”.
17.30
Ministers are discussing extending school holidays by a few days amid tough new measures to halt the third wave of coronavirus.
Home visits are expected to be banned from midnight as the government imposes a full national lockdown until the end of January.
Nonessential retail will have one more day of negotiation before stores are asked to close starting on New Year’s Day based on plans being discussed by Cabinet.
Schools are expected to remain closed until January 11. Gyms and leisure centers will also be asked to close under the new restrictions.
The Level 5 restrictions the Cabinet is debating come in the context of a massive increase in new Covid-19 cases.
An emergency Cabinet meeting was held today to address the increase in cases. Last week, Nphet urged the government to close all non-essential retail stores and gyms out of fear that England’s new strain of virus will spread more quickly.
Taoiseach Micheál Martin will announce the new restrictions once agreed by the Cabinet around 6pm.
School closures are expected to be announced until January 11.
Currently, the schools are due to reopen next Wednesday, January 6.
Government sources say a delay in reopening until the following Monday is being considered.
“It is an option that is being considered,” said a senior government source.
However, there is great reluctance within the Coalition to disrupt the operation of schools and nurseries.
Therefore, it is not entirely clear whether the Cabinet will opt for this option.
The 5km travel limit will also return in the lockdown that will last throughout January.
Working from home will be recommended to everyone again, unless absolutely necessary.
Manufacturing and construction jobs will remain open.
Religious services will be online only, and funerals will be limited to eight to 10 people.
Indoor and outdoor events will not be allowed.
Restaurants and pubs serving food may only offer take away food.
Meanwhile, flights from the UK will continue to be banned until January 6. However, a limited number of repatriation flights will continue.
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