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The government has announced Level 5 restrictions across the state for six weeks from Wednesday night / Thursday morning at midnight through December 1.
The cabinet approved a return to the stricter restrictions under the government’s Living with Covid plan in a bid to reduce the spread of the virus.
It is understood that intense negotiations between ministers and health officials resulted in the decision to seek Cabinet approval for Level 5 rather than an improved Level 4, which was discussed on Sunday.
However, schools and kindergartens will remain open, non-contact training may continue for children in groups of up to 15, and elite sports will be allowed, including closed-door inter-county Gaelic games.
As part of the restrictions, the public will be asked to stay within 5 km of their home and there will be penalties for violations. There are some exceptions, such as medical reasons and essential work. Sources described the proposal as a “level 5 soft” approach.
Cabinet agreed tonight that there is a four-week review mechanism of the six-week shutdown. There are also some key deviations from the Tier 5 plan with weddings of up to 25 people allowed.
Social bubble
Martin announced that a social bubble measure would allow people who raise or live alone to mate with another household.
The Cabinet also decided that people will be able to meet outdoors with another home. According to the original Level 5 plan, social or family gatherings should not be held in other settings.
Taoiseach Micheál Martin said that if people “come together for the next six weeks, we will have the opportunity to celebrate Christmas in a meaningful way.”
If we all come together and follow the spirit of these new rules, [Christmas] It will be a very special moment and it will give us all a respite from the difficulties of the last seven months. “
“Our journey over the next few weeks and months will not be easy, but our future is in our hands. It is not easy, but we must all delve into ourselves. We must persevere and we must be resilient. “
A key factor in the government’s decision was that Nphet’s letter indicated that a three-week lockdown would not control the virus for long, but that the virus would be largely suppressed during the month of December after a six-week lockdown. .
The government considered proposals to lift the county-by-county restrictions depending on the virus’s performance. Under Level 5 no private home visits are allowed. Wet bars, cafes, restaurants and pubs may only offer takeout or home delivery. Only essential outlets can remain open. All other personal and retail services will be closed.
High-level government sources said the decision to recommend such strict measures was “very depressing” but that significant interventions were needed to get the public back to safe behaviors. The view is that incremental measures would not work if the current trajectory of the virus is reversed.
The construction and manufacturing sectors will be allowed to continue operating under the proposals.
Pandemic unemployment payment
Due to the higher level of restrictions, the Cabinet has decided to introduce a Pandemic Unemployment Payment (PUP) of € 350, for those who have been earning more than € 400 per week. This is a new band that is being introduced, rather than reintroducing the general payment. Current PUP recipients who have earned more than € 400 will have their fees automatically increased to € 350.
The Government has also agreed to reform the Employment Wage Subsidy Plan. Under the scheme, Covid-19-affected employers whose billing has dropped by more than 30 percent get a flat-rate subsidy based on the number of qualified employees on the payroll.
The scheme will be expanded from three bands to five bands to help companies retain as many staff as possible in light of the stricter restrictions.
Under the existing scheme, there are three weekly pay bands that benefit just under 350,000 employees as follows: € 0 for those earning less than € 151, a payout of € 151 for those earning between € 151 and € 203 and € 203 for those who earn € 203 to € 1,462.
Under the new scheme, there will be five bands, the highest of which will make employers pay € 350 for those who earn between € 400 and € 1,462. There will be a payment of € 300 for those who win between € 300 and € 400. There will be a payment of € 250 for those who win between € 203 and € 300. There will be a payment of € 203 for those who win between € 151 and € 203. This revised scheme will be in force until the end of January 2021,
There will be an eviction ban that will remain in effect according to Health Minister Stephen Donnelly.
The Government will also consider offering childcare services for people with disabilities and addiction services, and a mental health package will be introduced.
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