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Counties where so-called “wet pubs” reopened in late September saw an increase in the 14-day incidence rate of Covid-19 ten days later.
A data analysis survey carried out by Ernst & Young (EY) and provided to the government indicated that this increase was not seen to the same extent in Dublin, where wet pubs were not allowed to reopen.
The report notes, however, that the reopening of pubs on September 21 – everywhere except in the capital – also coincided with the opening of universities and specific sporting events.
He said the 14-day disease incidence rate began to rise in all counties 10 days after the pubs reopened.
But Dublin’s increased incidence rate was less than elsewhere. EY’s analysis found that infection growth in the capital was 33% lower in October than the national average and 79% to 82% lower than in counties with larger cities.
The EY report found that infection rates in Cork, Galway and Limerick increased to three times the national average between October 1 and 16.
“Not opening the wet bars appears to have helped Dublin further slow the increase in cases than the national average,” he said.
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Covid-19 cases in Cork City spiked after the dank pubs reopened on September 21 and also spiked in the county area shortly after, according to the study.
There were also a series of GAA games in early October in Cork, which coincided with the increase in the virus rate. There were no matches after this and cases across Cork started to drop 10 days later.
EY also reported that cases in Dublin took longer to decline after Level 3, indicating that Level 5 was needed in the capital to control cases.
Last Friday, Micheál Martin confirmed that wet pubs would remain closed when Ireland moves to level 3 restrictions from Tuesday 1 December.
The Vintners Federation of Ireland, which represents pubs outside of Dublin, described the decision as an “impressive act of hypocrisy that has resulted in innkeepers being treated as second-class citizens within the hotel industry.”
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