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The Taoiseach says Ireland is “under siege” and facing “a tsunami of infection” when it announced a total shutdown.
In the past 24 hours, more than 6,800 swabs tested positive, with a positivity rate of around 25%.
Under the new restrictions, schools across the country will be closed starting Monday, but Leaving Certificate students will be able to return to school three days a week.
As part of this plan, teachers could be asked to attend school five days a week, while students would be divided into groups and asked to attend on certain days.
Officials from the Department of Education are consulting this afternoon with teacher unions on how to facilitate students.
The Taoiseach says that “while all the scientific and public health evidence shows that schools and childcare services remain safe environments,” the restrictions are to reduce mobility, as more than a million people are involved in the education sector.
He added that the government will endeavor to ensure that the exit certificate goes ahead as normal examinations, and “will do everything possible to make that happen.”
The resumption of the ECCE program will also be delayed until February 1.
Daycare centers and other childcare facilities will be allowed to remain open, but will only be available to vulnerable children and the children of those listed as essential workers.
Construction All construction sites, except those considered critical infrastructure, such as schools and some social housing projects, have been instructed to close as of 6 p.m. Friday.
The construction sites will be closed until the end of the month, when the restrictions will be reviewed.
Travel On the travel side, Transport Minister Eamon Ryan confirmed that the current travel ban from Britain and South Africa, where new variants of Covid-19 have been reported, will run until midnight Friday.
Thereafter, a negative Covid-19 test result from the previous three days will be required for travelers to enter the country.
All restrictions announced today will remain in effect until the end of the month, at which time they will be reviewed.
Micheál Martin says the restrictions are necessary as the country currently has more Covid patients in our hospitals than ever before.
“That is why we are doing this. And that is why we must delve into ourselves and face the coming months with fierce determination and resolve. We simply have to suppress this increase and flatten the curve.
“Once again, the personal decisions that each and every one of us make over the next month will directly affect how many more people get sick and how many more people die. It’s as simple and tough as that,” he said.
He added that the new strain of the virus in the UK is currently in Ireland and can quickly lead to growth well beyond previous worst-case scenarios.
Those arriving in Ireland from the UK and South Africa will now need to provide a negative PCR test within the above 72 hour period and present it to border or gardaí officials at ports or airports.
This will be punished with a fine or possible deprivation of liberty.
Other countries are likely to be added to this requirement in the coming days.
While Mr. Martin welcomed the news of the approval of the Moderna vaccine, he cautioned: “Really enormous harm can be done if we let our guard down against the virus in any way in the future.”
The government estimates that around 35,000 people will be vaccinated this week, mostly healthcare workers and some people in nursing homes.
With the approval of the Moderna vaccine, this could potentially increase to 60,000 injections per week in February, and then “much more” when the AstraZeneca vaccine becomes available.
All nursing home residents and staff, frontline healthcare workers, the very old and the chronically ill are expected to be vaccinated by the end of March.
Noting that some businesses will close “for the last time” due to restrictions, Tánaiste Leo Varadkar said: “This is bad and it is getting worse.”
He added that the restrictions introduced on December 24 do not yet show any effect, but they will.
“January is the month we all stay. We are facing what is going to be a really dark January. The third wave, which could be much worse than the first.
The cabinet agreed that the pandemic unemployment and employment wage subsidy scheme will remain in effect, at current rates, at least until March 31.
The € 2 billion contingency fund for issues that may arise and costs that may arise as a result of Brexit, or Covid, has already been used.
Finance Minister Paschal Donohoe and Public Expenditure Minister Micheal McGrath are said to be in contact with banks to ensure that people can receive some relief from mortgages and loans if they have been hit by the lockdown.
The Taoiseach said that he has been in contact with the gardaí and said that the people, in general, have been following the rules.
He added: “No one should sell take away pints, the message is to stay home.
“It’s not that someone could be selling pints, forget about selling pints.”
Serious concerns have been raised about the “hasty and reckless decision” to reopen specialized schools for children with special educational needs on Monday despite widespread school closures.
While education has shifted to distance learning for the vast majority of students, the government has ordered that special schools, special classes and other specialized settings reopen Monday.
However, education stakeholders say they raised concerns about these plans at a “very short briefing” that took place before the announcement of the Taoiseach.
Special schools, students and staff do not exist in a bubble separate from mainstream society, the National Organization of Teachers of Ireland (INTO) said in a statement.
These plans were not consulted prior to the briefing.
“In light of the deteriorating public health landscape and the growing impact of the new variant of Covid-19, it is now necessary to ask questions about elements of the government’s plan,” said John Boyle, INTO secretary general.
“How is it safe for staff or children to attend special education settings?”
The union is seeking urgent meetings with the Department of Education and the National Public Health Emergency Team (NPHET) to assess the measures that will be taken to protect the health and well-being of INTO members, it added.
“The government should also publish the latest NPHET advice along with updated public health figures that establish the public health foundation for the decision to provide special education as normal in schools.”
“It is imperative that these members required to facilitate face-to-face learning, as front-line workers during the worst of the pandemic, receive early vaccination and adequate protection in the workplace.”
Meanwhile, the Association of Secondary Teachers of Ireland (ASTI) has said that the union has not had “access” to medical data showing that schools are safe enough for students and teachers.
The union said it is concerned that today’s government decision was made without full consideration of the possible consequences for current public health goals.
An Garda Síochána says it will introduce additional police measures to support the Covid-19 restrictions announced today by the government.
More static checkpoints will be placed on domestic routes as part of Operation Fanacht.
Gardaí says they will start from 7 a.m. tomorrow morning and will be supported by local checkpoints introduced last week.
Several united Gardas will also redeploy to the front line and participate in high-visibility patrolling of key locations such as utilities, parks and other scenic areas.
Gardaí says they will continue to investigate any alleged violations of public health regulations under Operation Navigation (Licensed Facilities) and Operation Treoraim (Non-essential Retail).
Gardaí has also emphasized that while they will be monitoring people who travel outside their home and within the 5 km restriction limit, these measures do not apply in the case of domestic violence or to escape a risk of harm, either for the person or for another person. .
Gardaí says they understand that the move to tighter restrictions will increase the anxiety and fear felt by those who may be victims of domestic abuse, but that they will continue to receive a top priority response for service under Operation Faoiseamh.
Speaking this afternoon, Deputy Commissioner John Twomey, Police and Security, said keeping people safe during this pandemic remains An Garda Síochána’s “number one priority.”
“We all have a role to play in dealing with the pandemic.
“To date, there has been widespread compliance with public health councils and regulations.”
Commissioner Twomey urged people to continue to abide by the latest public health advice.
“This is a difficult time for people, especially those who feel vulnerable or isolated.
“If you need help or know someone who needs it, please contact your local Garda station,” he added.
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