Latest Lockdown Decision: Everything That Could Happen Next Week As Tensions Continue Between Government And NPHET

Taoiseach Micheál Martin is expected to address the nation Thursday night to announce the Covid restrictions that will be in effect in the run-up to Christmas.

The current six-week lockdown will end on December 1, and any possible lifting of the restrictions will take effect starting at midnight on December 2.

But in order not to intrude on one of Ireland’s most beloved Christmas traditions, the annual Late Late Toy Show on RTÉ this Friday, Martin will address audiences on Thursday.

The cabinet will meet Tuesday to discuss next steps and again before the long-awaited public announcement.

Tensions are mounting between the government and NPHET officials, who are believed to be in favor of continuing the total lockdown.

NPHET will meet on Thursday, but this could move forward given the proposed timing for the Taoiseach’s address to the nation.

Political sources expect the country to enter an “improved” Level Three at least on December 1 with stores, gyms, hair salons and salons open and al fresco dining allowed.

The current ban on home visits is likely to continue for at least the first two weeks of December.

However, there is talk that restrictions on travel and home visits could be eased by Christmas week.

The main battlefield between business and public health officials is likely to be the hotel sector again.

Under possible restrictions NPHET and the government are considering, pubs could be allowed to open in December, but with a 10pm curfew.

There may be table limits of just four people in restaurants, while unlicensed bars could be required to close before pubs in an attempt to discourage private parties.

Retailers and the hospitality sector have asked the government to allow them to reopen.

The Restaurant Association of Ireland (RAI) has called for indoor dining to resume after 1 December.

RAI executive director Adrian Cummins insisted that alfresco dining won’t work for the hotel industry, especially in light of the fact that it is winter.

Mr. Cummins told RTE Radio: “It is not feasible and our clients tell us they will not dine out in the cold depths of December.

“We want our restaurants to be open for indoor dining starting December 1 and we are ready to do so in a safe and controlled manner.”

And while some restrictions may be relaxed during Christmas week, Ireland could remain at level three until a vaccine arrives in the new year.

Two of the vaccines under development, those from Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna, could be approved by European regulators by the end of December.

With this in mind, the Irish government hopes to have a sufficient stock of the Covid-19 vaccine by the end of January.

In preparation for this, the HSE and the Department of Health are already preparing systems that could effectively distribute the vaccine, while the government’s vaccine task force will meet later this week.

Healthcare workers and those who are considered medically vulnerable will receive the vaccine first, before it is distributed to the general population.

But there is increasing tensions between the government and NPHET members, as many suspect that Medical Director Tony Holohan wants the country to remain at Level 5 until at least the middle of next month.

In fact, NPHET wants the country to remain on lockdown until a Covid-19 vaccine is available, a source told The Sunday Independent.

These tensions between the government and NPHET are the latest in a series of clashes as officials try to determine what is best for the country as a whole, as the battle against Covid-19 continues.

And tensions arise as NPHET must be concerned about public health and the rate at which the virus is spreading, while the government must also take into account the economy and other factors.

Early last month, there was widespread panic after it was revealed that NPHET recommended that the country move to Level Five for four weeks.

This recommendation was controversially rejected by the Government the following day.

But an increase in the number of Covid cases meant that the Cabinet had to accept NPHET’s advice two weeks later and impose the six weeks of Level Five restrictions the country is currently facing.

Despite these tensions, government officials continue to have great respect for NPHET members.

But there is growing frustration with what officials believe is NPHET’s failure to back up its claim that Level Five was necessary to control the virus, according to The Sunday Independent.

Some believe that the Level Three restrictions, along with the restrictions on home visits, were effectively curbing the virus and there was no need for companies to move to Level Five.

The government’s planning comes as daily figures show that there are still more than 300 new cases of coronavirus per day in recent weeks.

Meanwhile, the Irish Hotel Federation has reiterated its call for the Government to include hotels as part of the core infrastructure for the reopening of the company on December 1.

Tim Fenn, CEO, stated that Irish hotels are proven to provide safe and controlled environments.

“Hotels can help ensure a safer reopening, thereby minimizing the risk of increased infection rates,” he said.

Hoteliers are calling for people to be allowed to travel outside of their county and for dining outside of hotels to be allowed, even for non-residents, as part of the restrictions lowered from Dec. 2.

Ireland registered 318 new Covid-19 cases on Sunday, but many counties are seeing encouraging signs.

A total of 16 counties had fewer than five cases in the latest batch of figures, with the national incidence rate now at 109.9.

Dublin again had the highest number of infections with 126, followed by Cork, which had 45.

Limerick was 28, Donegal 21, Kildare 18, and the remaining cases were in 18 other counties.

The total number of cases now stands at 70,461, while the death toll is 2,023.