Taoiseach Reveals Government May Allow ‘Window Of Opportunity’ In December To Allow Families To Enjoy Christmas

TAOISEACH MIcheal Martin has hinted at the possibility of a “window of opportunity” for Christmas.

However, he cautioned that the holiday period will be different from what people might normally experience.

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Level 5 restrictions must end on December 1, as the country focuses on Christmas.

Martin acknowledged the improvement in the Covid-19 situation in the Republic and hinted at the possibility of more relaxed restrictions during the festive period.

The Fianna Fail leader said there was a lot of work to be done and that work would continue through Christmas with a particular focus on keeping social contacts low.

He told RTE News: “I think [there is] work we will have to do.

“We are aware that people want a Christmas. It will not be the same as last year, it cannot be because of a global pandemic and the impact of that.

“However, I think that since we are all learning as we go individually, collectively as families, in terms of how Covid impacts people who, for example, contracted Covid during the summer after, that learning experience I think will. inform others.

“So I think we can create a window of opportunity for December for people to have a good Christmas, even if it is a different Christmas than what they would normally experience.”

REVERSED MEASURES

The Taoiseach noted that the goal of the Level 5 lockdown across the country was to get coronavirus numbers “very, very low” to allow for more flexibility in December.

He said: “I just came from a meeting with all the party leaders, with the medical director and HSE chief Paul Reid.

“My take is that we look at this over the six weeks so the numbers really go down to a very, very low level so that we could have maximum flexibility for December and beyond and achieve a long stretch in terms of bringing the economy, reopening society and allowing people to return to work, especially in areas such as nonessential retail.

“That is the most important ambition, goal and motivation behind Level 5.

“We are working a lot now to analyze and work now in terms of the Level 5 exit, but also in terms of what will work in the future.”

According to Martin, NPHET and the government are working to determine the individual measures and the difference they make to the Covid-19 figures.

They are also examining which measures can be reversed and which should continue.

He told viewers: “We did Level 3 and Level 3 seems to hold [Covid-19 cases] at a certain level and stop exponential growth.

“The restrictions on households apparently had a big impact and then Level 5 came to accelerate that downward trajectory.

“Ultimately, human behavior is key, and in terms of congregation, we hope to get better data in terms of areas like nonessential retail and to inform our decisions in the future.”

CHRISTMAS CONTACTS

NPHET Epidemiology Modeling Advisory Group Chairman Philip Nolan said health officials are trying to bring the coronavirus level as low as possible before the shutdown ends on Dec. 1.

Professor Nolan said Level 5 impacts are now starting to show, and a decline is finally being seen in Dublin.

He said: “Dublin has been in Level 3 or more strict restrictions since the beginning of September and yet the number of cases in Dublin is higher than at that time.

“They are declining now, which is really good news, and it is not unusual for an outbreak to be resistant in a capital city.”

“It is quite clear to us that there is a direct and obvious correlation between the level of social contact and the behavior of the virus.”

VOTE OF NO TRUST

Tonight 499 new cases of Covid-19 were announced with eight more deaths.

When speaking about the vote of no confidence cast by Sinn Fein regarding Leo Varadkar, Micheal Martin said that it was not an “adequate answer”.

The Tanaiste will face a vote of no confidence in the Dail next week due to the leaking scandal that saw him hand over confidential government documents to his friend.

Martin said: “I think Sinn Fein’s motion is a disproportionate response.

“As I said, I just came from a meeting with party leaders and the key issue for us is the global pandemic, its impact on jobs, the economy and businesses, and the government wants to focus on that issue.

“He wants to focus on protecting his healthcare, education, keeping our schools open and also in terms of keeping the house building and housing issue and really those are the issues four months after the last general election that should dominate all our attention.

“And I think that such a destabilizing move at this particular juncture, so soon after a general election, I don’t think it’s the appropriate or proportionate response.”

The Taoiseach added that he believes the government will win the vote next week.