Dublin needs a ‘miracle’ to escape increased Covid restrictions, ministers say

Dublin requires “a miracle” to emerge from increased Covid-19 restrictions next month, ministers have said, as concern rises around eight other counties.

Speaking today after a cabinet meeting, the ministers said there is “no chance” that the restrictions will be eased if the number of cases does not start to drop dramatically.

They spoke when 334 new Covid-19 cases were confirmed, 174 of which were in Dublin.

The restrictions in the capital were announced on Friday and ministers warned that their effect may not be apparent until after this weekend.

“It seems very doubtful that Dublin will emerge. It would be a miracle when you look at where the numbers are and, more alarmingly, where they are going, ”said a senior minister.

“At this point, it’s hard to see it happen,” said a source of easing restrictions in Dublin.

“It might take a week or two more to bring the number down,” said another.

Sources say there is growing concern about whether the public continues to adhere to the guidelines, particularly among those aged 18 to 54. “It’s not just the youngest people right now, people of all ages below the most vulnerable are tired.”

Government sources also say they are concerned about rising numbers in Cork, which has so far managed to avoid a second wave. Closing the two largest cities at the same time would be “a desperate situation,” they say.

Justice Minister Helen McEntee said the government’s approach is to try to convince people, and young people in particular, to stick to the guidelines, but admitted that the numbers are going in the wrong direction.

“What we need to focus on right now is encouraging people to adhere to the guidelines that currently exist. Yes, we have seen the numbers increase and there have been a number of counties that have stood out particularly, ”he told the Irish Examiner.

But until we get a recommendation from NPHET, until they tell us they’re at a point where we need to move to a different level, then obviously we can’t make a decision.

“What we have to do is encourage people across the country, and also in Dublin, to adhere to the current guidelines, so hopefully that means that no county will have to go back perhaps to several different levels.”

McEntee said it is very difficult to know what will happen until NPHET meets again.

“Unless people stick to the guidelines, the numbers will keep going in a direction we don’t want. We don’t want to get to that point, ”he said.

The Minister of Public Expenditure, Michael McGrath, expressed his concern, as “clearly the figures are going in the wrong direction.”

McGrath said that if there were “flagrant violations” of the regulations, the government would consider increasing the gardaí’s powers. He said the law must be enforced to protect the vulnerable.

“If necessary, that is what we will do. We will examine what else might need to be done to ensure that there are adequate powers and resources for the gardaí to protect the communities,” he said.