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Tánaiste Leo Varadkar has strongly suggested that Dublin pubs will not reopen on September 21 due to the increase in Covid-19 cases.
Varadkar has also said that the government will seek to restrict gatherings in homes in the capital, similar to measures taken in Glasgow.
He said the government is now considering rapid tests at airports to allow more international travel, but is also considering a European map of green, amber and red zones.
This travel map would allow unrestricted travel between the green areas and then testing or quarantining the orange and red areas.
84 cases of coronavirus were announced today, 51 of them in Dublin.
On Tuesday, 307 cases of the virus were recorded, 182 of which were in Dublin. Yesterday 84 cases were announced, 51 of which were in the capital.
While the cabinet agreed that all so-called ‘wet pubs’ should be able to reopen on September 21, Varadkar said: “I think based on the figures you would be more confident to see pubs in rural Ireland open on September 21 ., instead of Dublin.
“If we have to act, we will act and act in a way that protects public health and human life.”
When asked about the possibility of drastic measures on home visiting, Mr Varadkar said: “Restricting home visiting is what they are doing in Glasgow right now. I don’t know how effective it has actually been, They made a decision, rather than closing schools again or closing childcare again and closing businesses again that they would go to great lengths to gather within the home, that is an option that I think we will have to consider if the numbers continue in that direction. “.
But he said he would have “real concerns” about businesses and jobs if there is a second lockdown.
In the Dáil, during a debate on the controversial new regulations for pubs announced last week, Health Minister Stephen Donnelly said that the temporary regulations were introduced for the sole purpose of limiting the spread of Covid-19 to save lives, protect health, get our Hospitals, schools and universities open and allow the economy to function.
He said that the Government opposes the motion to annul these regulations presented by the Independent Rural group.
Donnelly said that Covid-19 transmission rates are not at the levels we saw in April and May, but we are on an upward trajectory and this trajectory is causing great concern.
“When restaurants opened, they didn’t see clusters of cases, but when pubs opened without food being served, they did see an increase in the number of clusters of cases. That’s what sustains this measure from day one, ”said Donnelly.
“We therefore introduced a regulation whereby the pub in question could be required to provide proof of sale for the meals. This can be done very simply in the form of cash receipts, which each restaurant and each pub already keeps for six or seven years for their VAT refunds. “
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