Level 5 restrictions will remain in effect until March 5, as ministers agree to mandatory quarantine measures.

The CABINET coronavirus subcommittee has agreed that the current Level 5 restrictions will remain in effect until March 5.

The government will also work to gradually reopen schools, starting with special education, ministers agreed tonight. More details are expected to be provided in a government announcement tomorrow.

Talks are continuing with the unions in this regard, but the schools are expected to be able to return in some form in the coming weeks. More decisions are expected regarding this year’s Leaving Certificate exams this week.

The committee also approved the mandatory quarantine tonight for those traveling to the country without a negative PCR test, as well as for passengers from “high-risk areas” such as South Africa and Brazil.

Passengers will have to pay for their own stay in quarantined hotels that will be monitored by private security companies.

Travelers will need to pay for a Covid-19 test after five days and if they test negative, they will be allowed to leave. Those who receive a positive test will be left in self-quarantine for up to two weeks.

Currently, passengers arriving from any country must have a negative PCR test 72 hours prior to their arrival in Ireland.

All passengers arriving from Great Britain, South Africa or any country in South America are advised to isolate themselves (stay in their room) for the full period of 14 days after arrival in Ireland.

Passengers entering Ireland from all other red and gray regions, including all countries outside the EU traffic light system, are required to restrict their movements for 14 days.

However, this can be reversed by receiving a second negative PCR test performed no less than 5 days after arrival.

Passengers arriving from the green and orange regions (as defined by the EU traffic light system) are not required to restrict their movements on arrival, but must present their PCR results upon arrival.

The ministers have also agreed that there will be more security checks at airports. They also did not rule out going further with the restrictions in the future.

Failure to comply with these regulations will result in a fine of up to € 2,500 and / or up to six months in prison. Sources said it will take time to implement this system for operational and legal reasons.

The cabinet subcommittee was attended by Taoiseach Micheal Martin, Tánaiste Leo Varadkar, Transportation Minister Eamon Ryan, other high-ranking ministers, and members of NPHET tonight.

Decisions made tonight will need to be approved by a full Cabinet meeting tomorrow. Then announcements are expected in the afternoon.

The Northern Ireland blockade was also extended until March 5 of last week, which means that the two jurisdictions on the island will have similar restrictions until at least that date.

Taoiseach Micheál Martin said over the weekend that the additional travel restrictions are aimed at deterring people who are considering traveling for non-essential reasons.

With reporting by Sean Murray