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Coalition party leaders will meet today to consider in detail a new call from the state’s public health team to increase restrictions to the highest level possible.
The National Public Health Emergency Team (Nphet) has again recommended a move to Level 5 as Covid-19 case levels continue to deteriorate.
While it has been suggested that the Level 5 restrictions could last for six weeks, high-level government figures have expressed concern that another shutdown could last much longer, with significant economic implications.
Taoiseach Micheál Martin has described the situation as “very serious”, while Tánaiste Leo Varadkar warned that a second block would be much more difficult than the first. Sources close to the leader of the Green Party, Eamon Ryan, have indicated that he also has concerns about the economic impact and the duration of another blockade.
Nphet is understood to have written to the government warning of what could happen if his advice is not followed. However, there is a high level of concern among ministers that the warnings do not take into account other health services or the economy.
Furthermore, the Government believes that it can rapidly increase the capacity of hospitals and intensive care units.
It is also understood that there is a great reluctance at the highest level of government to move to level 5 immediately. Sources close to the top of the government say the new restrictions recently introduced have not had a chance to work.
There are also fears that in the event of a level 5 closure, schools will inevitably close because teacher unions would not tolerate their members being exposed to the risks of working when most people are told to stay home. . Other sources have warned of a large increase in job losses that would last well into next year.
However, there is a division of opinion among Ministers on what should happen next.
One said that a “big decision” would need to be made this weekend and that it was becoming “more difficult to hold the line” in the current Level 3 measures in place. Cavan, Monaghan, and Donegal are currently below level 4.
Any tightening of restrictions in the rest of the country would result in the closure of many retail services, gyms and leisure centers.
The three party leaders will meet around lunchtime on Saturday to discuss the implications of the public health councils. It is understood that a new exit strategy will be discussed to clearly present to the public the way in which the state could return to a lower level. This will involve setting goals for what needs to be accomplished, a sequence for reopening, details on implementation, a communications plan, and a strategy for pandemic welfare payments.
On the other hand, there is also growing concern that the state’s contact tracing system, a key way to control the virus, is under pressure.
The Health Department yesterday announced another 1,000 cases of Covid-19 and three deaths of people with the coronavirus, and people were urged to reduce social contacts to the “absolute minimum.”
Northern Ireland recorded 1,299 new cases of Covid-19, its highest daily total to date, before the introduction of new restrictions aimed at limiting the spread of the virus. Two more deaths were reported, bringing the official death toll to 608.
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