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Tanaiste Leo Varadkar has confirmed that Ireland’s pubs and restaurants will close before New Year’s Eve.
It comes after Dr. Tony Holohan, CMO, said that a sharp increase in the number of infections could lead to a “risk to life” next month.
A total of 484 new cases were reported nationwide Thursday night, and Dr. Holohan fears the return of “exponential growth” in infections.
The National Public Health Emergency Team met yesterday and recommended that bars and restaurants be reimposed on December 28.
The cabinet will make a final decision next Tuesday, but Fine Gael leader Leo Varadkar told RTE’s Prime Time last night that the hotel industry is likely to shut down.
(Image: RTE)
He said: “The numbers have started to rise again, especially in the last few days. The number of people who have tested positive for Covid in the last seven days is 25% higher than in the previous seven days.
“And the positivity rate is also increasing, that is cause for concern and alarm. Therefore, what NPET recommends is that we should re-impose some restrictions before Christmas and New Years, without reaching January 6 as we expected. “.
He added: “The kind of restrictions we would be thinking of imposing between Christmas and New Years would be hospitality restrictions, essentially shutting down hospitality again and limiting home visits to another home, but not a total ban on home visits. .
“But, for example, non-essential retail and personal services would remain open.”
Taoiseach Micheál Martin also admitted Thursday that more Covid restrictions are likely to come into play before the end of the year.
Mr. Martin struck the blow after NPHET recommended that the government should implement restrictions on the hospitality sector and a cap on the number of households that mix into one another before the end of the year.
Mr. Martin told RTE News that the government will take these recommendations “very seriously” and said that people can expect more restrictions “towards the end of the year, I think before New Year’s Eve is how I would put it.”
However, he said the government will make a decision on Tuesday on what exact restrictions will be reintroduced “and the specific nature of the restrictions will have to be decided by the government.”
While the medical director, Dr. Tony Holohan, also expressed concern about the increase in the 5-day moving average of cases.
Dr. Holohan said: “The 5-day moving average is 387 per day; This is an indicator that the disease is moving rapidly compared to the previous 5-day average.
“The virus is spreading across the country, in all age groups.
“We are now receiving reports of outbreaks in social settings, including work settings, Christmas parties and funerals.
“I can’t stress enough how important it is to limit your interactions now.
“The consequences of not doing so will be an exponential growth in January, a substantial increase in hospitalizations and risk to life.”
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