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Updated at 4:40 PM. Additional information from the Press Association.
The Taoiseach says that moving other counties into Level 3 restrictions will be ‘carefully considered’.
It comes as the government has raised concerns about the growing number of COVID-19 cases in several counties.
Louth, Waterford, Limerick, Kildare, Leitrim, Donegal, Offaly and Wicklow were previously singled out by government officials as cause for concern.
After the medical director mentioned Donegal, Louth and Waterford yesterday, Taoiseach Micheal Martin says they are being monitored:
“NPHET will advise us on an ongoing basis in relation to the rest of the country, certainly Louth, Donegal and Waterford are giving rise to concerns.
“CMO Ronan Glynn has told us this and it will obviously be closely monitored. It is an important decision to move to Level Three for any county, so it will be carefully considered.”
Coming as Minister of Higher Education, Simon Harris said that Ireland is at a crossroads in the coronavirus pandemic.
In an update on the government’s Living with Covid-19 plan today, a Taoiseach Department official Liz Canavan warned of “troubling trends” nationwide following increased restrictions in Dublin.
Ms Canavan said Dublin “made a lot of headlines” but it was important to note that the situation at the national level was also cause for concern.
The government official listed Louth, Waterford, Limerick, Kildare, Leitrim, Donegal and Offaly as regions currently showing “worrying trends.”
He noted that Donegal had gone from registering 18 cases in the previous fortnight to 102 cases during the most recent fortnight, while Wicklow had gone from 19 cases to 99 in the last few weeks.
We are at level two nationally and we want to stay there or improve to level one, he said. “We don’t want to go to the other side.”
He said of particular concern was the fact that community transmission was increasing, which meant that the source of infection was unclear and the possibility of any gathering becoming a source of infection had increased.
Level three
The six counties mentioned by Ms. Canavan are now on the verge of increasing to Level Three restrictions as cases continue to rise across the country, according to the Irish Examiner.
Green Party leader Eamon Ryan has said “it’s a possibility” that other parts of the country will follow Dublin on its rise to a higher level of restrictions, which has seen many bars and restaurants in the capital close.
Yesterday saw the highest number of new confirmed cases in a single day since May 14, with 396 new Covid-19 cases confirmed on Sunday, bringing the total number for the weekend to 670.
Acting Medical Director Dr. Ronan Glynn has raised concerns about rising levels of Covid-19 in Donegal, Louth and Waterford in particular, saying it is vital that people in all counties do everything they can to break the chains of transmission for the next seven days.
All our behaviors during July and August and in September [are] starting to accumulate exponentially.
Another member of the National Public Health Emergency Team (NPHET) has said that the current “exponential increase” in cases began in late June, at the same time that pubs and restaurants reopened.
Professor Philip Nolan, chair of the NPHET modeling advisory group, said that the growth of the virus began several months ago:
“What you are seeing now are the roots of that increase which is based on all our behaviors during July and August and in September, starting to accumulate exponentially.”
Level three restrictions now in place for the capital mean that only businesses offering takeout or outdoor seating are allowed to open for the next three weeks as the city and county of Dublin have undergone stricter restrictions after an increase in cases in the capital.
Harris said the government “acted very quickly” on the advice of the National Public Health Emergency Team earlier this week.
We need to unite again. At this moment there are people in our ICUs with # COVID-19 Fighting for every breath The number of people in ICUs, hospitals and the sick is increasing. We have a small window to reverse this worrying trend. We did it before. We owe again
– Simon Harris TD (@SimonHarrisTD) September 20, 2020
“There is a very, very narrow window here now, where the Irish have a choice,” he told RTÉ.
“We are at a crossroads. This could be in two ways. We have to act now to make sure we don’t go back to where we were in March or April. “
Referring to previous local closures in Kildare, Laois and Offaly counties, Harris said “quick action” had been taken, adding that simply closing meat factories in those counties would not have been enough.
Harris also said that while Ireland is testing more people for Covid-19 than most other European countries, more investment is needed.
He said there are currently about 14,000 tests daily, the vast majority of which are negative.
The Labor Party has called for more support for the population of Dublin, which faces tighter restrictions for the next three weeks.
Business spokesman Aodhán Ó Ríordáin said there are reports that up to 50,000 people could lose their jobs in Dublin.
“This is serious, it is spreading in the community and we need to support people who need help,” he said.
“The Labor Party is calling for significant support for individuals and businesses. So far, we’ve had the usual business package, but nothing for ordinary people. “
He proposed the restoration of the pandemic unemployment payment, the prohibition of evictions and rent increases, and the extension of the bank payment interruption.
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