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Proposals to restrict the hotel industry to takeaway services only from late December would have a “devastating” impact, said the director of the Restaurant Association of Ireland (RAI).
The National Public Health Emergency Team (Nphet) advised the government on Thursday to implement additional restrictions shortly after Christmas to curb the spread of Covid-19. The restrictions lowered in the current phase were to remain in effect until January 6.
While a decision has yet to be made, officials have raised December 28 as a possible date to reintroduce restrictions on restaurants and pubs serving food.
Speaking on Friday, Dr. Tony Holohan, medical director, said there had been “too much” socializing in the past two weeks.
The recommended restrictions were aimed at areas where people congregate, and no sector had been “disturbed,” he told RTÉ’s Morning Ireland program.
Adrian Cummins, CEO of RAI, said the proposed restrictions in the hospitality sector before the end of 2020 “will have a devastating economic impact” on companies and employees.
In a post on Twitter, Cummins said there had been “no restaurant-related cases in the past two weeks.”
Padraig Cribben, executive director of the Vintners Federation of Ireland (VFI), which represents pubs outside of Dublin, said it was a “very disappointing and really worrying development.”
Mr Cribben said there seemed to be a “backlash of going to the nearby hospitality on a recurring basis without any great evidence of cases emanating from the sector.”
RAI president Mark McGowan said new restrictions would be “a slap in the face” for the struggling industry.
Speaking on Friday morning, he called for a “quick” decision and clarity by the government on the possibility of a return to the restrictions.
McGowan told RTE Radio’s Morning Ireland that the hospitality sector was controlled by well-trained staff and that statistics had shown that transmission of the virus occurred primarily through homes, not restaurants.
The hospitality sector was “boosted” and any further restrictions would be “a slap in the face,” he said. “I am very concerned about the long-term damage that yo-yo closures are doing to our industry,” he said.
In the same program, Ibec’s executive director, Danny McCoy, urged the government to give a “proportionate response” to the increase in Covid-19 cases.
The impact of the virus in some sectors has been disappointing, especially in hospitality and aviation, he said. “We need a thoughtful response and quick decision making, but take the weekend and then give a proportionate response,” he said.
Speaking on Prime Time on Thursday night, Tánaiste Leo Varadkar said that Ireland is “fine” compared to other countries, but that the numbers “have started to rise again.”
He said the Cabinet would meet Tuesday to discuss Nphet’s recommendations, as well as advice from other sources, but that it would not be a return to Level 5.
“The kind of restrictions we would think of reimposing would be between Christmas and New Years would be restrictions around hospitality, essentially shutting down hospitality again, and limiting home-to-home visits, but not a total visitation ban domiciliary, “he said.
“For example, retail sales and personal services would remain open.”
He said the government did not want to make a decision on the reimposition of restrictions before Tuesday as it gives them additional time to consider advice and see the number of positive cases in the coming days.
“Keep in mind that we would still be giving those companies seven to 10 days notice, even if that decision is not made until Tuesday,” he added.
He acknowledged that the need to re-impose restrictions between New Year’s Eve and Christmas is “devastating news.”
“I know this not only from the hospitality industry in particular, but also from the people who had planned the season, who are looking forward to seeing people over the New Year, and that it may not be possible now,” he said.
“Unless the numbers stabilize over the next few days, we will have to move forward from January 6 to the point where we need to re-impose restrictions.”
He added: “I know this is a very difficult thing to hear and a very difficult decision for people to make, but if we don’t do it and wait until January 6, the restrictions we reimpose may have to be tighter and may have to be lifted. . any longer and we don’t want that. “
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