[ad_1]
Construction will be allowed to resume in stages starting April 5, beginning with housing construction, according to plans ministers are considering.
It comes amid a huge push from pressure from the main representative group of builders, the Construction Industry Federation (CIF), which wrote to TDs on Friday warning them that “the government is being blamed” for the shutdown. continuous of the sector.
Elsewhere, several ministers said that if the number of Covid-19 cases remains high next month, it could mean that the current 5 km travel restriction would be extended, but only to 10 or perhaps 8 km. Current plans call for softening the cap to allow travel within county boundaries.
The CIF, in its message to TDs warning of the “political implications” of the closure, argued that the housing crisis would drag on “for at least three years” and claimed that the HSE data showed that it is “safe to fully open “.
Currently, only social housing projects that are nearing completion are allowed.
According to plans being examined by Housing Minister Darragh O’Brien, housing construction could be considered from April 5, but work in commercial premises such as offices would not yet be allowed.
The Housing Department estimates that the gradual reopening would mean that an additional 14,000 workers would return to the sites in addition to the 30,000-35,000 currently estimated to be working. Work could be resumed on exceptional homes and farms.
Home extensions
It’s unclear how the home expansions would be affected, but it’s likely that, based on the proposals, larger commercial housing projects, such as apartment projects, could continue.
“There are already 35,000 people working in construction right now on essential projects,” said a source. “There is strong public health data from the sector and it has been reassuring… If you add another 15,000 across the state who do outdoor work, it won’t be a huge additional risk.
“It is an outdoor job and we need to build as many houses as we can.”
The proposals are understood to have the support of some Cabinet colleagues, who are increasingly concerned about the long-term impact of keeping the sector closed. High government figures said construction would resume after April 5, but a full return may not be possible if the situation around variant B117 remains problematic.
While there was a strong consensus from all contactees that non-contact outdoor activities and workouts for those under 18 will be allowed after April 5, one minister said there was more caution about homes being able to mix outdoors .
Daily hospital admissions have been mostly between 15 and 25 in recent days, but rose to 43 on Friday. 507 new cases were reported Friday and 10 deaths.
Pharmaceutical giant Johnson & Johnson told the European Commission it would deliver 55 million doses of its single-shot vaccine in the second quarter. Based on reported expected monthly volumes, Ireland can expect around 33,000 doses in April, 143,000 in May and 429,000 in June.
Coagulation
The National Immunization Advisory Council (Niac) lifted the suspension of the AstraZeneca vaccine, 24 hours after the European Medicines Agency confirmed that the benefits of the injection outweighed clotting risks after a review of the evidence.
Several political sources expressed frustration at the pace of decision-making and complained about the process by which letters must be exchanged between Niac, the chief physician, and the health minister before decisions on vaccines can be made.
The HSE has been asked to dose this weekend, with small amounts expected on Saturdays and Sundays, and an increase until next week. There are about 60,000 doses of the AstraZeneca vaccine in the state.
The vaccine can be used by everyone over the age of 18, Niac recommended, and healthcare professionals should be aware that complicated and very rare clotting events have been reported in a small number of people who have recently received it.
[ad_2]