Strict Covid-19 restrictions to be reimposed before New Year’s Eve

Tight restrictions on the public are likely to be re-imposed before New Year’s Eve due to the rapid rise in Covid-19 infections.

The restrictions will be eased starting tomorrow and people will be able to travel outside of their county, while up to three households can meet at each other’s homes as part of their Christmas celebrations.

The lighter regulations were to be in effect until January 6.

However, after receiving recommendations from the National Public Health Emergency Team (Nphet), Taoiseach Micheál Martin and his fellow Cabinet members will now meet on Tuesday to discuss an earlier crackdown that has been recommended by Nphet.

Dr. Tony Holohan, the medical director, confirmed that a specific date has been recommended, but did not say what it is, while Martin said it is “likely to be before New Year’s Eve.”

The restrictions could include reducing home visits to just one and more restrictions in the troubled hospitality sector, the Taoiseach told RTÉ News.

Meanwhile, speaking on RTÉ Stellar hour Tonight, Mr. Varadkar rejected the idea that the government’s decision to open hospitality and allow home visits in December was a mistake.

He said he understood that people would be disappointed if their New Year plans were disrupted, but said the virus’s trajectory was not where the Government or Nphet wanted it.

He said that if the numbers continue to rise, looming restrictions may have to be tightened. He said there have not been an excess of deaths so far this winter and that this is what he hopes to avoid.

Varadkar said he believed that the first vaccinations in Ireland would take place in the days around New Year’s Eve.

Nphet confirmed three more deaths and 484 new cases of the virus on Thursday, bringing the total number of confirmed deaths to 2,143 and the number of cases nationwide to 77,678.

The crucial 14-day virus incidence rate has risen to 94.2 and the number of patients hospitalized with the virus rose slightly to 200, with an increase from two for ICU patients to 31.

Dr. Holohan said: “We are now receiving reports of substantial outbreaks in social settings, including workplaces, Christmas parties and funerals. I can’t stress enough how important it is to limit their interactions now. ”

He said public health data shows cases arising from large funerals “far beyond the size of the guide both in the religious sense and in the sense of events that took place afterward that resulted in a substantial number of cases.”

Transmission is also occurring in the workplace and at large weddings, said HSE East’s director of public health, Dr. Deirdre Mulholland.

Professor Philip Nolan, chairman of Nphet’s Irish Epidemiological Modeling Agency, warned that the breeding number is estimated at between 1.1 and 1.3, more than Nphet expected yesterday.

“We are also starting to see increased demand for testing, around 800 additional tests being done per day for the past seven days compared to the previous seven days,” he said.

The number of close contacts is now about 3.4 per case.

“Now we have a high or very high risk of a sudden increase in January,” he said, adding that the public should limit their contacts and space the days between each visit.

Meanwhile, Health Minister Stephen Donnelly gave Dáil the latest details on the launch of the vaccine within the framework of the Covid-19 vaccination working group.

“The vaccines will be implemented in three phases. The first phase will be the initial deployment, this will be followed by a massive increase and finally we will have open access, ”he said.

“They will be provided at no cost. All vaccinators will be qualified and registered health professionals who will receive comprehensive and specialized training on Covid-19 vaccines ”.

The vaccines will be available in long-term care facilities, including nursing homes, large sites such as hospitals, GP clinics, and pharmacies. The HSE is also establishing mass vaccination centers.

The sequencing of vaccine qualifying groups may vary as more vaccines are added. Ireland has already signed up for five different vaccines through an EU deal.

Donnelly said: “Vaccines are not a silver bullet. We will continue to monitor public health measures well into 2021.”

The latest update from Dr. Holohan to Mr. Donnelly called for the speed and effort of the local health service on the ground to be increased due to the increasing number of positive cases.

The letter also addresses concerns expressed by the HSE about the continued absence of a case and incident management system and the need to improve the Covid Tracker app.